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Development of Unused Lands 



LETTER 

FROM 

THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR 

TRANSMITTING 

REPORT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 
UNUSED LANDS OF THE COUNTRY 




October 10, 1919.— Referred to the Committee on the Public Lands 
and ordered to be printed without illustrations 



WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1919 



X 



m 7st C Smlon m } HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES j ^ gST 



Development of Unused Lands 



LETTER 






FROM 



THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR 



TRANSMITTING 



REPORT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 
UNUSED LANDS OF THE COUNTRY 




October 10, 1919.— Referred to the Committee on the Public Lands 
and ordered to be printed without illustrations 



WASHINGTON 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1919 






B 3 •! -r. 

NOV 19 J9|3 



LETTER OE TRANSMITTAL. 



Interior Department, 

Washington, October- 6\ 1919. 

Dear Mr. Speaker: Herewith I transmit a report upon the devel- 
opment of the unused lauds of the country made under authority of 
the last Congress. 

This report in much detail gives the possible projects which are 
available in the various States. The field has not been fully covered 
because the appropriaton made was not sufficent to go further. We 
have, however, gone far enough to demonstrate that in most of the 
States, North, South, and West, there are great bodies of unused 
lands which with drainage or clearing can be made available at a 
comparatively small cost for farms. 

This work has been carried on in the prospect that the Congress 
would see fit to give to our returned soldiers and sailors an oppor- 
tunity to go upon these lands under proper guidance and convert 
them into home farms for themselves. There are one or more bills 
pending before Congress having this end in view. It is a work that 
must in my opinion be undertaken soon if we are to maintain our 
position as a self-supporting people. And surely no other group 
deserve this opportunity more than the soldiers in the late war. I 
would not urge this as an exclusive method of stimulating and 
recognizing the ambition of our soldiers, but I believe it to be one 
method that carries good and no harm to the country and to the men 
themselves. 

If the objection is raised that the Federal finances will not support 
the drain proposed, I beg to advise that I am authoritatively in- 
formed that there will be no difficulty in selling $500,000,000 in Gov- 
ernment 3f per cent nontaxable bonds which would be sufficient to 
cover the expenditures contemplated under the Smoot-Mondell bill. 
This would be in the nature of a reimbursable fund, the whole being 
repaid over a long period by the farm owners. 
Cordially yours, 

Franklin K. Lane. 

Hon. Frederick H. Gillett, 

Speaker of the Hotise of Representatives. 

3 



PART I. 



INVESTIGATION OF SWAMP AND CUT-OVER LANDS. 



INVESTIGATION OF SWAMP AND CUT-OVER LANDS. 



In the appropriation for the United States Reclamation Service 
for the fiscal year 1919 the Congress made the following provision 
for the investigation of swamp and cut-over lands : 

For an investigation to be made by the Director of the Reclamation Service 
of the reclamation by drainage of lands outside existing reclamation projects 
and of the reclamation and preparation for cultivation of cut-over timber lands 
in any of the States of the United States, including personal services in the 
District of Columbia and elsewhere, purchase, maintenance, repair, hire, and 
operation of motor-propelled or horse-drawn passenger vehicles, and for all 
other expenses, there is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not 
otherwise appropriated, $100,000. 

The investigation in the Eastern States north of the Ohio River 
and of cut-over lands of the Northwest was placed in charge of Mr. 
F. W. Hanna, and the region commonly known as the Southern 
States in charge of Mr. H. T. Cory. Both of these gentlemen are 
engineers of long experience in similar work, with also considerable 
training in the theory and practice of agriculture. The detailed re- 
sults of their investigations are given in their respective reports 
following. Investigations of irrigation and drainage in the Western 
States was conducted by Mr. F. E. Weymouth. 

Any classification of the swamp and cut-over lands of the country 
must be exceedingly rough and general, as, owing to the nature of 
the case, two different authorities, however careful and skillful, will 
probably differ widely in results if these are independently obtained. 
This is due to the difficulty of setting any definite bounds to any 
class which may be adopted, owing to the following reasons : 

Lands needing drainage can not be absolutely delimited owing to 
the varying necessities of drainage at different times of year and in 
different years owing to change of season and mutations of climate. 
The area is also constantly changing by improvement of natural out- 
lets or the construction of artificial drains, and where the ground 
water stands too high for one character of production it may be suit- 
able for another. Where the ground water is too high for successful 
agriculture in a wet year it may in a •dry year for the same reason 
be superior to other lands in the vicinity with low water table. 

Many areas of cut-over lands also require drainage, and to be made 
agricultural must be not only drained but cleared of brush and 
stumps. Large areas of cut-over lands are too rough or too rocky for 
agriculture and should be allowed to reforest themselves; but opin- 
ions will differ on this point, and any useful classification must take 
these facts into consideration. 

Cut-over lands are even more difficult to define than those needing 
drainage. The majority of existing forests have at some time or 
other been cut over, and often the land has been actually in cultivation 
and practically denuded of trees. The abandonment of fields or the 

7 



8 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

neglect of the cut-over areas permits the growth of young timber, 
which is sometimes useful and sometimes of little value. Thus, by 
one definition, any land that has ever been timbered and cleared may 
be regarded as cut-over land, although in a high state of cultivation. 
This is obviously not the usual or accepted meaning of the term. If 
the fields have been abandoned and young brush has started up, it 
may in some cases be reduced to cultivation again at moderate ex- 
pense any time in the first few years, but this expense may increase 
as the timber grows and clearing becomes more expensive. After the 
lapse of 50 or 60 years the timber may become merchantable and the 
-land, although strictly speaking has been " cut over " and requires 
extensive clearing to reduce it do cultivation, may be similar in its 
essential characteristics to the virgin forest. 

Where the merchantable timber has been cut, leaving stumps, 
young brush, and small trees, it constitutes a typical case of what is 
known as cut-over land, but as time passes the young trees grow to 
merchantable size, the stumps gradually decay, and in time we have 
this land cease to be "cut-over" land. 

It is thus obvious that different authorities, however careful or 
skillful, may differ widely in their reports of the actual areas of 
wet and cut-over lands and still more widely when attempt is made 
to classify these as agricultural and nonagricultural. For this rea- 
son, any statistics on this subject must be regarded with allowance, 
and should have the term used carefully defined for specific tables. 

The distribution of reclaimable agricultural land is shown by the 
general map to be very irregular and erratic. t The Lake States, the 
southern Atlantic and the Gulf States contain vast areas of lands 
requiring drainage and also timber lands, the majority of which 
have been at some time or other cut-over and a large proportion of 
which will be suitable for agriculture if properly cleared. It by no 
means follows that all of such lands should be now or eventually 
devoted to agriculture. 

In many places the swamps and overflow lands serve useful pur- 
poses as reservoir sites to diminish the volume and intensity of the 
floods of the drainage basins in which they occur, and each one should 
be carefully considered as to the advisability of continuing its serv- 
ices and improving its efficiency for these functions. The regula- 
tion of streams is important from many points of view. If our 
streams could be made to flow with comparative regularity instead 
of in great flood waves it would terminate destructive floods that 
cause such havoc and loss of life. To accomplish this we must carry 
out gigantic projects such as those in the Miami conservancy district 
in Ohio, designed mainly or exclusively to moderate the freshets 
and regulate the flow of the streams. 

The feasibility of such works depends largely upon the existence 
of suitable reservoir sites. 

A good reservoir site is in several respects a topographic rarity. 
It must ordinarily have a suitably located basin with a sufficient 
watershed above which can be closed and formed into a reservoir by 
a feasible dam of moderate cost which will form a reservoir of large 
capacity in order that its usefulness may be commensurate with its 
cost. Where such favorable reservoir sites exist they may be of great 
value and may constitute the key to the feasibility of river regulation. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 9 

and if reclaimed for agriculture and built up with towns, villages, 
railroads and other improvements, their cost soon becomes prohibi- 
tive and the onlv feasible opportunity of river regulation may thus be 
destroyed. Every scheme for the drainage and reclamation of 
swamps and low-lying river bottoms should therefore be carefully 
considered in its relation to the country at large and especially' that 
below, on the streams to which its waters are tributary, and if the 
proposed reclamation will in fact destroy a good and useful reservoir 
site it should not only be avoided but precautions should be taken to 
prevent the accumulation of improvements which will become obstruc- 
tions to its utilization for storage purposes. This principle is far 
more important than usually realized, because we are apt to over- 
look the need, the rarity, and the essential characteristics of feasible 
reservoir sites. 

Similar precautions are necessary in examining areas of timber or 
cut- over lands with reference to the wisdom of clearing and devoting 
them to agriculture. Some lands are so hilly and rocky as to be 
unsuited to agriculture, although they may be fairly well adapted 
to forest growth, and these obviously should be devoted to that pur- 
pose, but though this seems obvious when stated, it should be remem- 
bered that the principle has been often and extensively violated. A 
considerable part of the alleged " abandoned " farm lands in the 
New England States are lands that should never have been cleared, 
as they are more suitable for forest growth than for agriculture, and 
their abandonment has been simply the recognition of their appro- 
priate use. 

The existence of rocks and hills is not by any means the only bar 
to the suitability of such lands for agriculture. The soil may in 
some cases be unsuitable for various reasons without expensive modi- 
fication or application of expensive additions. 

Even where the soil and topography are highly suitable for agri- 
culture it by no means follows that it would be wise to clear the cut- 
over lands and devote them to that purpose. There may be other 
areas in the vicinity just as favorably conditioned where the cost of 
reclamation would be less or where the timber that must be removed 
is less valuable, and different tracts should hence be considered in the 
light of their suitability for agriculture in location, topography, soil, 
and climate, and also the character of growth which clearing would 
remove in order that the most valuable timber stands may be allowed 
to mature. 

We should never forget that we will always need forests and wood 
lots to complete the prosperous community, and it is just as important 
to consider and provide for this need in the most efficient and 
economical manner as it is to provide for any other community 
needs. In view of the above, it is obvious that only a small fraction 
of the forested areas which are seen on the general map could be 
wisely reduced to cultivation at the present time, or even within the 
next generation. By a wise and skillful discrimination we must 
select those areas requiring the least expenditure and least destruc- 
tion to reduce them to cultivation, and must leave uninjured and 
adequately protected the areas needed for water storage and those 
most suitable for forest production. This still leaves an ample choice 
in the States mentioned for all of the reclamation that is likely to- 



10 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

be carried out within the next generation, although the rules upon 
which selection is made must obviously be modified from time to 
time. 

RECLAMATION OF NEGLECTED FARMS. 

In some of the States where little or no opportunity exists for the 
reclamation of arid, wet, or cut-over lands, there are still abundant 
opportunities for development which involves reclamation of other 
kinds. Many areas exist which have been cultivated and for lack 
of proper treatment have become so nearly barren as to be considered 
exhausted and unprofitable for agriculture, and are wholly or partly 
abandoned. Some of these have improved by the interval of non- 
cultivation, but the major portion require the addition of some of the 
elements of plant food or the elimination of deleterious qualities by 
proper treatment. 

The majority of eastern soils, for example, are more or less acid 
and require the application of lime or other antidotes to neutralize 
the acidity. They generally require also the addition of nitrogen, 
which can be accomplished by the proper growth of legumes to be 
incorporated with the soil by plowing under. Some also require the 
addition of phosphates or of potash, and the cases are numerous 
where such reclamation as that described is as appropriate and as 
profitable as reclamation of other kinds in other regions. In same 
cases large areas have been gradually concentrated in single owner- 
ships, and the system of tenantry which has followed does not pro- 
duce the best results but leads to the neglect and deterioration of the 
soil until its cultivation yields little profit. Where such areas can 
be acquired and cut up into homes they ma}^ be restored by proper 
tillage methods and the addition of nitrogen or other plant food 
until they are capable of constituting thickly settled and prosperous 
colonies. It is often found that large ownerships and tenant farm- 
ing are the accompaniments if not the causes of neglect and partial 
or entire abandonment of agriculture. Reclamation from such con- 
ditions is as wise and as necessary as any other mode of develop- 
ment. 

The purpose of the appropriation for these investigations was 
understood to be the feasibility of preparing farm's for settlement 
by returned soldiers under a planned rural development such as 
has been carried out in Australia, and many European countries 
with benefit both to the settler and the community at large. Inves- 
tigations have^shown that many of the so-called abandoned or neg- 
lected farms in the Eastern and Middle States can be rehabilitated 
by proper culture with more or less clearing, draining, and leveling 
and the addition of lime or other needed constituents of soil. 

The investigations along this line were necessarily of a most pre- 
liminary nature as one of the principal facts to be developed is the 
price of land, and no actual negotiations could be carried on to 
ascertain this in the absence of authority and funds for the pur- 
chase. The information therefore is of a general nature but indi- 
cates that such opportunities of an attractive character can be found 
in practically all the Northern, Eastern, and Middle States where 
improved farms can often be purchased at but little increase over 
the present value of improvements, and by some or all of the methods 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 11 

of reclamation above mentioned can be made suitable for coloniza- 
tion at reasonable price. 

Those same States also contain many large areas in private own- 
ership, but held at very moderate prices, which belong in the cate- 
gory of wet and cut-over lands requiring drainage in some cases 
and clearing in nearly all cases. In some instances they have been 
under cultivation in the past, but have been abandoned for many 
years or used for pasture only, and allowed to grow up in brush, 
which will require clearing. Most of such lands also require the 
addition of lime, the building of roads, and the opening of drainage 
outlets to permit the escape of excessive rainfall. 

NORTHERN DIVISION. 

The northern division comprises the area east of the Missouri 
River and north of the Ohio. The opportunities for soldier settle- 
ment are abundant in most of these States, and especially so in the 
lake States — Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota — where vast areas 
of cut-over lands and lands needing drainage are found, and some of 
•"hem were examined in detail. 

In several of the States of the Mississippi Valley where agricultural 
conditions are excellent the development has been so complete that- 
only small areas of undeveloped lands have been found. Some of 
these are cut-over regions, some are naturally wet places needing 
drainage, and some are overflow lands which require levee protection 
and drainage works. These States, however, all contain considerable 
areas in large ownerships, farmed by tenants, where results are un- 
satisfactory and are growing worse. Many of these offer favorable 
opportunities for soldier settlements which will be nearly as bene- 
ficial to the country at large and as favorable for the soldier settle- 
ments as the reclaimed lands in other States. With proper locr' co- 
operation there is no doubt that favorable colonies can be estab- 
lished in all the States. 

In Xew York and Pennsylvania are considerable areas of good 
cut -over lands, some of which are adaptable to agriculture and very 
favorably situated for settlements. The convenience of transporta- 
tion and the abundance of good markets near at hand give these re- 
gions important advantages over some others, and in New York are 
many areas requiring drainage which apparently will afford favor- 
able locations for colonies. 

Xew England presents the extreme case of local need for agri- 
culture. The present agricultural production of New England is 
but a fraction of what it was half a century ago, while the growth 
of population and of manufacturing industries makes a market 
which draws more and more for subsistence upon the Mississippi 
Valley and the Far West. The development of agriculture here is of 
first importance in sustaining the manufacturing industries in the 
face of the necessity of transporting their food and raw materials. 
Many excellent opportunities for the development of cut-over lands, 
the drainage of wet lands, and especially the rehabilitation, fertili- 
zation, and building up of areas which have in the past been farmed 
but are now wholly or partially neglected. 

The decline of New England agriculture has been due in general 
to the demand of its growing manufactures for the necessary labor 



12 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

and the competition of cheap, fertile, and extensive agricultural 
areas of the Mississippi Valley and the great West. These lands 
are no longer cheap, and the growth of the Middle West is to a large 
extent absorbing the product of the western farms so that New 
England must enter into active competition for its food supply 
under the handicap of costly transportation. This condition has 
reversed the influence which led to the decline of New England 
agriculture, and in providing for its rehabilitation the soldier set- 
tlement program affords the opportunity of doing this and at the 
same time keeping at home the thousands of soldiers who enlisted 
from these centers of population. 

A description of conditions in the various parts of the northern 
division is to be found in the accompanying report of Mr. F. W. 
Hanna, who conducted the investigations. 

SOUTHERN DIVISION. 

In the Southern States opportunities for colonization are of the 
same three classes. The largest areas are of cut-over lands. In past 
years small holdings of timber land have been acquired by lumber 
companies and merchantable timber has been cut and marketed as 
lumber. Many of these large companies are now operating and are 
anxious to sell the cut-over land usually at low prices. In some cases 
drainage would be required and in others drainage should be as- 
sisted by opening and straightening surface outlets to permit the 
ready escape of excessive rainfall. In some of the richest localities 
where land can be had very cheaply, one of the principal drawbacks 
which must be overcome is the elimination of the swarms of mos- 
quitoes, which will require careful surface drainage and elimination 
of stagnant water. Also the clearing of luxuriant vegetation which 
springs up after the timber is removed. Such areas can only be 
successfully colonized in tracts of considerable size as it is imprac- 
ticable to carry out mosquito extermination on a small scale. In 
many of the Southern States, especially the border States, are to be 
found extensive areas which have been either abandoned or neglected 
since the Civil War and are of similar character to those described 
in New England. They can generally be purchased cheaply and 
rendered fertile by clearing and the addition of lime and nitrates. 
Fuller treatment of conditions in individual States will be found in 
the report of Mr. Cory. 

WESTERN DIVISION. 

Investigations in the Western States have been carried on under 
Mr. F. E. Weymouth, chief of construction, who previous^ had 
charge of such work in the 17 Western States under the provisions 
of the reclamation laws. The eastern tier of these States — the Da- 
kotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas — have considerable 
areas of humid land in which drainage is frequently needed and ir- 
rigation is not needed. Lands can be found in all of these States 
which are not swampy but which -a high water table requires that 
they be drained in order to fit them for other use than pasture or 
meadow or forest culture. Drainage can in many cases be provided 
at reasonable cost and where clearing is necessary this also is com- 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



13 



paratively inexpensive, Farther west irrigation projects have been 
investigated in the past and numerous opportunities of feasible en- 
velopment of this character exist in most of the Western States. 

Such reclamation can be applied to public land in Wyoming, 
Idaho, Washington. Oregon, California, and Arizona. In the other 
arid States most of the land to be reclaimed is in private ownership. 
The areas west of the hundredth meridian present many oppor- 
tunities for reclamation, not only by irrigation, but by drainage and 
by the clearing of cut-over lands, the latter opportunities occurring 
chiefly in Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California. 
Onlv a small percentage of these lands, however, are really suitable 
for reclamation at the present time. East of the mountain ranges 
the cut-over lands are mainlv arid or semiarid and hence require ir- 
rigation for successful agriculture. The combination of the cost of 
irrigation and of the necessary clearing and leveling of the lands 
is usually prohibitive even in the cases where irrigation is feasible at 
all, and in such cases it is usually best to encourage the reforestation 
of the lands by protecting the voung growth from fire. Considerable 
areas of semiarid land may by scientific methods be successfully cul- 
tivated without irrigation, but as the results are more or less pre- 
carious the values for such agricultural use are usually not high and 
may exceed the cost of clearing. m . 

There are cases, however, where such reclamation may be wisely 
carried out. In the extreme Northwest on the Pacific slope are 
large areas of cut-over lands where deep and excellent soil occurs, 
where the topegraphv is suitable, and where the rainfall is also 
sufficient for successful farming. Some areas in this region can be 
profitably and wisely devoted to agriculture, but in a large portion 
the cost "of clearing, owing to the number, size, and character of 
the stumps that are in the way, would at present values of agri- 
cultural land make the enterprise prohibitive, and the land can 
best be utilized by reforestation. This is true also to some extent 
in western Oregon and northwestern California. A large portion 
of the cut-over lands in the Northwest is, of course, unsuitable for 
agriculture on account of topography and rocky soil and can best 
be restored to forest condition. 

The great bulk of the land west of the one-hundredth meridian 
which is not too high, cold, or rocky for agriculture is arid. Of this 
arid portion over 16,000,000 acres have been placed under irrigation 
by private or public enterprise, and in carrying out this work of 
course the more favorable opportunities for such irrigation have 
been developed. It will still be possible to add many million acres 
to the irrigated area and perhaps to double the area now irrigated, 
but this must generally be done at high cost, as the cheap oppor- 
tunities have been long since exhausted. There are remaining, how- 
ever many areas which can be irrigated within feasible costs and 
will 'develop values far in excess of the necessary expenditures. 
They will furnish healthful homes for settlers and will supply 
agricultural products and food resources in proximity to great 
mining and grazing resources which will be made more valuable 
thereby. There is much room for wise and profitable activity m 
this line in most of the Western States, but the total areas that can 
be thus reclaimed are much less than those offering opportunities 
in the States farther east, 



14 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

The following projects have been investigated and appear to be 
feasible : 

ARIZONA. 

Yuma Mesa project. — As an extension to the Yuma project it is 
proposed to pump water from the main canal of the Yuma project 
by three pumping plants, raising the water from 40 feet to 80 feet. 
The plants are to be operated by power generated at two power 
plants to be located on the main canal. The irrigated area is 
estimated at 45,000 acres, but the actual development will probably 
be somewhat less. It is at elevation froni 140 to 215 feet above sea 
level and has a semitropical climate with very seldom any injurious 
frost. The growing season is 365 days and the average rainfall i& 
less than 3 inches per annum. The freedom from frost and charac- 
ter of soil fit this tract especially for the. growth of citrus fruits 
and other semitropical products. There has been some demonstra- 
tion of citrus culture on adjoining lands, which shows its adaptabil- 
it} T to this product. Irrigated lands in the vicinity are valued at 
from $250 to $300 per acre. The major portion of this tract is 
public land. 

Parker project. — On the Colorado River Indian Reservation at 
and below the town of Parker on the Santa Fe Railroad is a tract 
of land approximating 200.000 acres, a large part of which can be 
irrigated by diverting the waters of the Colorado River upon it. 
A small part of this land is already irrigated by pumping from 
the Colorado River. The climate is similar to that in Salt River 
Valley and Imperial Valley and is adapted to the growth of cot- 
ton and semitropical products generally. As the present works 
on the river below utilize the unregulated flow of the Colorado 
River at low water, the development of this project will require 
storage works, which will be discussed under a' separate heading. 
This project has not been examined in detail, but enough is known 
to justify the opinion that it is feasible. 

CALIFORNIA. 

The Imperial Valley, in southeastern California, lying mostly 
below sea level, is a general tract of very fine alluvial land with semi- 
tropical climate, which is watered from the Colorado River diverted 
just above the Mexican line and carried in narrow channels for a 
distance of 60 miles through Mexico and back into California, where 
it is used for irrigation. This water is subject to adverse diversion in 
Mexico, and to avoid the progressive depletion of the supply from 
this cause, it has been proposed to build a high-line canal by divert- 
ing water from Laguna Dam, above the Yuma project, and carry- 
ing it on a high-line grade entirely in California to the Imperial 
Valley. This will be high enough to reach about 400,000 acres of 
land that can not be covered from present works and would also 
carry water for the land now irrigated. It would enable the irri- 
gated area in California to be more than doubled. As the area irri- 
gated at present from the Colorado River consumes all the natural 
Sow at low-water season in some years, it is not regarded as feasi- 
ble to add materially to the cultivated area without providing 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 15. 

storage on the Colorado River. This storage may be accomplished at 
reservoirs on the Colorado River and tributaries, which have been 
investigated and are listed in a subsequent table. 

The high-line canal proposed will afford opportunity for the de- 
velopment of considerable hydroelectric power, which can be used 
for pumping to additional lands above the gravity canals and can 
also be used for various purposes of the settled region of the irriga- 
tion project. The irrigation works contemplated for this develop- 
ment will probably cost about $52,000,000. 

In addition to the development described, the works will inci- 
dentally obviate the necessity of building a temporary dam every 
year in the Colorado River at the present heading. This dam is 
regarded as a menace to the safety of the Yuma Valley, and its con- 
struction is accompanied by a bond of $000,000 to indemnify the 
owners for any losses that might occur from this construction. The 
major portion of the lands to be irrigated, in addition to those now 
irrigated, are public lands. 

Orland project. — The Orland project of the Reclamation Service 
now covers about 20,000 acres which receive water from the East 
Park storage reservoir on Stony Creek. It is proposed to build an- 
other reservoir on Stony Gorge on the main stream and add 30,000 
acres to the present project. Both of these units may be considered 
portions of the general development of the Sacramento Valley, but 
stand in an independent position financially. The probable cost of 
this development would be $2,500,000, The climate of the proposed 
project is similar to the rest of the Sacramento Valley and furnisher 
a growing season throughout most of the year, with an average rain- 
fall of about 18 inches, nearly all of which falls in the winter months. 
The preliminary investigation of this project has been completed, and 
construction can begin without delay if funds are provided. 

Iron Canyon project. — The largest unit of the general Sacra- 
mento Valley development is provided with a water supply by the 
construction of a large storage reservoir at Iron Canyon above the 
town of Red Bluff. The land to be irrigated is mostly private land 
and comprises about 250,000 acres. It has an average rainfall of 
about 17 inches, nearly all of which falls in the winter, and a 
growing season of seven to eight months. It is adapted to the 
growth of alfalfa, rice, fruits, and vegetables. The low water flow 
of the Sacramento river is already utilized for irrigation, and -no 
large additional developments are possible without storage. The 
Iron Canyon site furnishes the only feasible site in which the 
Sacramento River waters can be stored and will furnish a supply for 
about 250,000 acres of land. The probable cost of the works pro- 
posed will be about $35,000,000, and this will include a large power 
development which will assist largely in paying interest on the 
investment. The value of developed land in this valley ranges 
from $150 to $250 per acre. 

Turlock-M odesto district. — In Stanislaus, Merced, and Tuolumne 
Counties, Calif., are about 260,000 acres of land, most of which are 
now covered by canals, but which require an additional water sup- 
ply through storage which it .is proposed to provide in Don Pedro 
Reservoir on the Tuolumne River. This reservoir will have a ca- 



16 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

pacity of about 260,000 acre-feet and will cost about $5,000,000. All 
of the land is in private ownership and most of it is as fully devel- 
oped as practicable without additional storage facilities. The grow- 
ing season is about 300 days and the average rainfall about 12 inches 
per annum, mostly in winter. 

Kingh River project. — In Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties, 
Calif., is an area of about 400,000 acres, with an average rainfall of 
about 10 inches, mostly during the winter months, and a growing 
season of 9 or 10 months. The lands are practically all in private 
ownership and most of them are irrigated from the unregulated 
flow of Kings River and its tributaries, but the supply is inadequate 
in the latter part of the season, and it is proposed to construct a 
storage reservoir on Kings River with a capacity of about 600,000 
acre-feet which will make possible the development of a large amount 
of power for use in lowering the water plane in the waterlogged 
areas. The pumped water can be used for irrigation upon adjacent 
lands. The irrigation works proposed will probably cost about $12,- 
000,000 and the values to be created are ample to make its return 
secure. 

Blythe project. — On the west side of the Colorado River below 
the Parker project is a tract of 40,000 acres of good land averaging 
about 250 feet above sea level, most of which can be watered from 
the gravity flow of the Colorado River if proper diversion is pro- 
vided. A large amount of this land is already irrigated, but the 
works are inadequate and river protection is required. Its proper 
development will also require the construction of storage works from 
the Colorado River above. The works proposed will probably cost 
about $5,000,000, and will include a share in the storage costs. The 
climate is semi-tropical, with an average rainfall of about 3 inches 
per annum. The climate and soil are adapted to the growth of 
alfalfa, cotton, sugar beets, melons, fruits, and vegetables. 

Colorado River Basin. — The natural flow of the Colorado River 
during the low water season is practically all required for irrigation 
of lands now under cultivation in Imperial Valley on the Yuma 
project and at other points along the river. Further development 
of consequence must therefore provide storage, a number of excellent 
sites for which have been examined on the Colorado River itself and 
upon various tributaries. In addition to the needs of irrigation, the 
lower valleys have important problems of protection from the over- 
flow of the Colorado River and this problem can be greatly amelio- 
rated by proper storage works within the basin. If a reservoir were 
built on the lower Gila and one on the lower Colorado where it forms 
the boundary between Nevada and Arizona, these two reservoirs, if 
of sufficient capacity, would control waters so as to regulate all the 
menacing floods. The latter would at the same time regulate the 
water for irrigation and afford an important auxiliary product in 
the shape of valuable water power. Preliminary investigations have 
been made of the Sentinel Reservoir site on the lower Gila and of the 
Boulder Canyon reservoir site on the Colorado River a short dis- 
tance below the mouth of the Virgin River. While these investiga- 
tions are not yet complete, indications are that feasible storage for 
the above purposes can be found at these points. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



17 



Other feasible sites have been found at the locations given in the 
following table : 

Principal reservoir sites in Colorado River Basin. 



Reservoir. 


Location . 


Height 

of dam, 

feet. 


Estimated 

capacity, 

acre-feet. 


Foundations. 


State. 


River. 


Ouray 


Utah 


Colorado . - 

Green 

Grand 

Gila 

Grand .... 

Green 

Yampa . . . 

San Juan.. 

...do 


170 
200 

215 

215 

130 

230 

180 

200 
206 
207 


10, 000, 000 
4, 500, 000 

3,120,000 

2,270,000 

2,220,000 

2, 200, 000 

2, 060, 000 

1,550,000 
1,350,000 
1,200,000 


Rock at from 27 to 128 feet. 


Junction 


do 


Borings from 100 to 376 feet 


.Flaming Gorge 

Dewey 


Utah and Wyo- 
ming. 
Utah..... 


did not reach bedrock. 
Bedrock at 73 feet. 

Bedrock at from 30 to 45 


Sentinel 


Arizona 


feet. 
Borings to 220 feet did not 


Kremmling 


Colorado 


reach bedrock. 
Bedrock at from 80 to 96 


Browns Park 

Jumper 


Utah and Colo- 
rado. 
Colorado 


feet. 
Bedrock at from 109 to 139 

feet. 
Bedrock at 24 feet. 


Bluff 


Utah 


Not tested. 


Hogback 


New Mexico 


Do. 











COLORADO. 



Grand Valley 'project. — The Grand Valley project of the Reclama- 
tion Service is at present not complete. The gravity system has been 
completed for 35,000 acres of land, laterals being required for the 
remaining 5,000 acres. Pumping units may be built for serving 
10,000 acres more. The area of this project is about 50,000 acres. 
It lies at altitudes ranging from 1,750 to 1,900 feet above sea level 
and has an average rainfall of about 8 inches per annum. The 
climate and soil are adapted to the growth of alfalfa, sugar beets, 
potatoes, small grains, fruit, and vegetables. The natural flow of the 
Grand River is ample for all needs of this project in addition to the 
power appropriations. The cost of the proposed irrigation works 
for completing this project is estimated at $600,000. The unculti- 
vated area is about one-half private land and about one-half public 
land. Investigations have been completed and construction can be 
begun whenever funds are available. 

Orchard Mesa project. — In Mesa County, Colo., upon Orchard 
Mesa south of Grand River there is a tract of about 9,700 acres of 
land for which irrigation works have been built by private enter- 
prise. The works are insecurely located and a large portion of them, 
being built of wood, are in an advanced stage of decay. It is neces- 
sary to build a new system at a cost of about $800,000 and the finan- 
cial feasibility depends upon making suitable arrangements for the 
cancellation of present liabilities of the district and the security of 
the return of additional investments. The most feasible method of 
reconstruction is by utilizing the upper part of the present high 
line Grand Valley canal built by the Reclamation Service and divert- 
ing water from that canal just above the long tunnel before it 
reaches the valley. This can be carried through a siphon across 
Grand River and conducted in a canal to the pumping plant of the 
Orchard Mesa district, where the present works can be utilized to 

141901— H. Doc. 262, 66-1 2 



18 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

pump the water to the necessary elevation. Preliminary investiga- 
tions of this project have been completed and construction can be 
taken up as soon as the district is able to enter into satisfactory con- 
tract and funds become available. 

Grand Valley drainage project. — The original Grand Valley canal, 
irrigating land in the vicinity of Palisade and Grand Junction, was 
built by private enterprise and serves the lower lands of the Grand 
Valley with an abundant supply of water. Its use has progressively 
increased the elevation of ground water until at .the present time 
a large acreage has been rendered infertile, and this area is rapidly 
spreading. A comprehensive drainage system is badly needed. 
With necessary authority and funds provision could be made for the 
construction of 52 miles of open drains and 162 miles of closed drains, 
emptying into natural drainage channels. This construction would 
cost about $1,200,000. There would be about 30,000 acres of land 
directly benefited, a large portion of which is improved and has a 
value far above the cost of the proposed works. The land lies at 
an elevation of 4,500 to 4,800 feet above sea level and has an average 
rainfall of about 8 inches per annum. The growing season is long. 
The climate and soil are adapted to alfalfa, sugar beets, potatoes, 
small grains, and fruit. The Denver & Eio Grande Railroad 
traverses the tract. 

Montezuma project. — In Montezuma County, Colo., is an area of 
about 50,000 acres of irrigable land, most of which are embraced in 
the irrigation district which was formed in 1902. Works were built 
to irrigate a portion of this land but the water supply is inadequate 
and the works are in poor condition and constantly deteriorating. 
About half of the land is now irrigated with poor results. There 
is usually a shortage of water after July 15. A preliminary survey 
has been made, but the feasibility of the Government rehabilitation 
of this project depends largely on the attitude of the landowners 
and the creditors of the Montezuma irrigation district. There are 
about 8,000 acres of State land in the project, the remainder being 
in private ownership. The proposed plan contemplates the construc- 
tion of storage reservoirs on the West Dolores River and the recon- 
struction of the irrigation system now operated by the Montezuma 
irrigation district. The estimated cost of improvement is $3,500,000. 
The natural rainfall averages about 12 inches per annum. The soil 
and climate are well adapted to the usual temperate zone products, 
including fruits. 

San Luis Valley drainage project. — In San Luis Valley in Colorado 
ubout 400,000 acres of land have been waterlogged, owing to excessive 
application of irrigation water, the uncontrolled flow of artesian wells, 
and the very slight declivity of the ground. Drainage districts under 
private enterprise have already been constructed for the relief of 
50,000 to 60,000 acres. Extensive preliminary studies have been made 
of this project and definite plans for construction can be made in a 
short time. Before work can be commenced it will be necessary to 
enter into suitable arrangements with the landowners providing for 
repayment of the cost of the proposed works. It is proposed to lower 
the present water table by means of deep drainage ditches and con- 
struct a deep outlet drain through the trough of the valley discharg- 
ing into the Rio Grande. The mean annual rainfall for this region is 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 19 

7.27 inches with a minimum of less than 4 inches. The lands lie at an 
average elevation of about 7,600 feet and the length of the irrigation 
season is about five months. Hay, sugar beets, field peas, and potatoes 
are the staple products. The construction works will probably cost 
about $10,000,000. The values created would afford ample security 
for repayment. 

IDAHO. 

IIUl Crest extensi&fa, Boise project. — The area embraced within this 
project is covered by two irrigation districts organized under the law 7 s 
of the State of Idaho. The lands lie above arid adjacent to the main 
canal of the Boise project. It is proposed to utilize the existing 
hydroelectric power of the plant at Boise River diversion dam to 
operate the pumping plant to lift the water 80 feet to the main canal 
to serve these lands. This canal will have a capacity of 200 cubic feet 
per second, besides lateral systems for distribution to the various 
farms. The average annual rainfall of this region is a little under 13 
inches. The lands lie about 2,800 feet above sea level and from 5 to 10 
miles from the city of Boise. They are well adapted to alfalfa, corn, 
small grain, and fruit. The proposed works will probably cost about 
$700,000 and the values to be created would afford abundant security 
for its repayment. 

Black Canyon unit, Boise project. — On the north side of Boise 
River lying above existing canals is a tract of about 39,000 acres 
which can be irrigated by a canal system heading near the city of 
Boise, which could be served from the Arrowrock reservoir. This 
area is embraced in the Black Canyon irrigation district organized 
under the laws of Idaho. It is proposed to construct a diversion 
weir and headworks on the Boise River, and to build a canal some 
50 miles in length having a capacity at the head of about 1,000 cubic 
feet per second. The tentative estimate of the proposed work is 
about $2,000,000. The land is practically all unimproved, but has 
mostly passed into private ownership. There are remaining about 
3,000 acres of public land and 1,000 acres of State land. The eleva- 
tion of these lands will average about 2,400 feet above sea level, and 
the average rainfall is about 12 inches per annum. 

Minidoka project, north side extension. — On the north side of the 
Snake River adjacent to the Oregon Short Line Railroad and the 
town of Minidoka there is a tract of about 102,000 acres of irrigable 
land lying above the main canal of the Minidoka project. None of 
this land is under cultivation, and nearly all is public land. The 
plan under consideration proposes the pumping- of water from Lake 
Walcott to a maximum limit of 120 feet and distribution by gravity 
to the lands to be cultivated. Power for pumping purposes can be 
developed at Eagle Rock and American Falls power site. The 
average annual rainfall is below 13 inches and the elevation aver- 
ages about 4,300 feet above sea level. The whole tract lies adjacent 
to the Oregon Short Line Railway and its branches. The proposed 
irrigation and storage works would cost about $15,000,000. 

Hansen Butte project. — An area of about- 22,000 acres in Twin 
Falls County, Idaho, lies adjacent to and above the south side Twin 
Falls canal. This land is mostly held in 160-acre tracts of homestead 
entries, and much of it has been patented. By the construction of 



20 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

additional storage on Snake River the land might be irrigated by 
pumping from the backwater above the Milner dam. Power might 
be developed at the present Minidoka power plant at Eagle Rock 
and American Falls. The lifts will range from 60 to 100 feet, and 
about 7,000 horsepower will be required for pumping purposes. 
The proposed works Avould probably cost about $2,000,000. 

Gem project. — This project is included in the Gem irrigation 
district, organized under the laws of Idaho, which now operates a 
pumping plant and canal system. Power is purchased from private 
companies under conditions unsatisfactory to the landowners. The 
district has an indebtedness of about $800,000, and is unable to pay 
its operating expenses under fixed charges. It is proposed to con- 
struct a power plant at Arrowrock with a transmission line about 
50 miles long to the present pumping plant of the Gem irrigation 
district, which would be enlarged, and the present canal and lateral 
S3^stems of the district will need to be enlarged and improved. The 
area to be served is about 27,000 acres, of which a portion is being 
cultivated at present. The average elevation is about 2,350 feet 
above sea level, and the average rainfall about 12 inches per annum. 
The growing season is from 6 to 7 months and the staple products 
are alfalfa, small grains, vegetables, and fruits. The proposed works 
are estimated to cost about $750,000. 

Lake Walcott project. — In Cassia County, Idaho, there is an area 
of 2,500 acres along the southern margin of Lake Walcott which 
could feasibly be irrigated by pumping from that lake Avith electric 
power developed either at the present Minidoka pumping plant or at 
American Falls. The land lies about 4,400 feet above sea level and 
has an average rainfall of 12.74 inches per annum. It is nearly all 
unentered public land. The estimated cost of contemplated con- 
struction is $215,000. 

Snake River storage, American Falls Reservoir. — At the town of 
American Falls on the Oregon Short Line Railway the Snake River 
flows through a narrow valley which might be closed by the con- 
struction of a suitable dam and would afford a storage capacity 
from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 acre-feet, as desired. This site is already 
used for the development of power and certain rights have accrued 
to the use of water for this purpose. It is proposed to build the 
reservoir and to permit the use of about 1,000 second-feet of continu- 
ous flow from the reservoir for power purposes at all points below, 
and to apply the remainder for irrigation purposes. This would 
require a reservoir capacity of 2,300,000 acre-feet and would supply 
irrigation water for about 450,000 acres of land. New lands could 
be served to a very good extent and the acreages of old land already 
using the waters of Snake River below this point are nearly sufficient 
to consume the storage water. The provision of this reservoir could 
be made to serve these lands and thus release the demand upon the 
Jackson Lake Reservoir which is greatly needed by lands above 
American Falls. The development of the American Falls Reservoir 
site would make available the entire flow of Snake River for 
irrigation and power purposes. It would flood about 66,000 acres, 
including a part of the town of American Falls. It is an important 
consideration in any complete development in the Snake River basin. 
The cost of this work is estimated at about $12,000,000, which is dis- 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 21 

tributed to and included in the estimates of cost of the various tracts 
which would be irrigated therefrom. 

Island Park reservoir. — By the construction of a dam at Island 
Park on the upper North Fork of Snake River, 565,000 acre-feet of 
storage would be afforded by a dam 90 feet in height. The construc- 
tion of this reservoir is only contemplated in case the American 
Falls Reservoir is not constructed. Tentative estimate of the cost is 
$4,000,000. About 15,700 acres would be flooded, of which about 
5,000 acres are in private ownership and the balance in the Targhee 
National Forest. 

Boise Valley drainage basin.— On the north side of the Boise 
River there is a tract of about 30,000 acres which has been injured 
by the rise of the water table and is now used mainly for pasture. 
To restore its fertility it requires a comprehensive drainage system, 
involving about 15 miles of open drains from 6 to 10 feet in depth. 
This is estimated to cost $600,000. All of the lands are in private 
ownership and an irrigation district has been formed under the laws 
of Idaho. The proposed drainage system would cost about $600,000. 
In case of provision of authority and funds for this work, it would 
make a feasible and attractive project. 

Payette Valley drainage project. — In Canyon County, Idaho, in 
the valley of the Payette River, is about 10,000 acres of land which 
has been injured by the rise of ground water and requires for its 
reclamation the construction of about 18 miles of drainage channels 
from 6 to 12 feet in depth. The proposed system would cost about 
$180,000. All of the area is in private ownership in tracts from 10 
to 160 acres. 

MONTANA. 

MUk River project, Chinook and Beaver Creeds division.— Those 
units are extensions of the Milk River project which would cost 
about $1,700,000 and would add to the area served by this project 
about 97,000 acres. Both require storage reservoirs/ the Chinook 
Division getting its increased water supply from storage on the St. 
Mary River which would be conducted in the St, Mary Canal of 
Milk River for diversion near Chinook. The Beaver Creek storage 
would be provided upon that creek just above the lands to be served. 
The Chinook division is mostly private land and part of it alreadv 
irrigated with an insufficient water supply. Beaver Creek division 
is mainly public and State land. 

Sun River project, Green-fields Bench division, — About 65,000 
acres can be added to the Sun River project by the construction of 
a storage reservoir on Sun River and the extension or enlargement 
of the canal systems. The proposed works would cost about $1,000.- 
000. The lands are well adapted to temperate zone products, espe- 
cially hay, grains, vegetables and sugar beets, and the majority of 
them are public lands. Some of these lands have been dry farmed 
but the last three years have been so dry that this has not been a 
success and it is demonstrated that irrigation is necessary for suc- 
cessful farming in this region. The average rainfall is between 11 
and 12 inches per annum, and the elevation is a little above 4,000 
feet. 



22 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

Bitter Root Valley project. — In Ravalli County, Mont., there is 
an area of about 30,000 acres, a portion of which is already irrigated 
and which is inadequately supplied with water. The existing works 
are inadequate and require reconstruction, all structures being badly 
deteriorated. All of the lands are in private ownership. Only a 
preliminary investigation has been made of this project, but it would 
probably cost about $1,500,000 to put it in first-class condition. 

NEBRASKA. 

North Platte project extensions. — About 130,000 acres can be 
added to the cultivated area of the North Platte project by the con- 
struction of an additional reservoir above Guernsey and the neces- 
sary canals. The work contemplated would cost about $9,000,000 
and would produce excellent results. The average elevation is about 
4,100 feet above sea level and the average rainfall is about 13 inches 
per annum. The growing season is about six months and the climate 
and soil are adapted to the growth of alfalfa, cereals, sugar beets, 
and potatoes. About one-half the land is in private ownership and 
the balance is public and State land. 

Lincoln and Dawson County project. — By the construction of a 
low diversion weir across the Plate River about 6 miles east of 
the town of North Platte and diverting water into a canal about 
45,000 acres of land on the north side of the Platte River can be irri- 
gated. The reconnoissance indicates that this could be accomplished 
by the expenditure of $2,500,000. The water supply would be from 
the stored supply of the North Platte River and the return drainage 
water from the irrigated lands of the North Platte project. 

Farmers^ ditch and canal project. — This canal would take water 
from the opposite end of the diversion dam mentioned above to be 
located about 6 miles east of North Platte, Nebr. Such a canal 
would cover about 50,000 acres of land on the south side of Platte 
River, and the canal system and its share of the diversion is esti- 
mated to cost about $2,000,000. All of the land to be benefited is 
in private ownership and its feasibility depends upon the outcome of 
negotiations with the landowners. The elevation of these two tracts 
is about 2,600 feet above sea level and the average rainfall about 
.22 inches per annum. The growing season is about 200 days and 
the staple crops are alfalfa, wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes. The 
Union Pacific Railroad furnishes excellent transportation facilities 
for this tract. 

NEVADA. 

Upper Carson project. — In Douglas County, Nev., are 39,000 acres 
of irrigable land averaging about 4,800 feet above sea level which 
can be feasibly irrigated from the East and West Forks of the Car- 
son River with storage in Horseshoe Reservoir and others that are 
available. The average rainfall is about 12 inches per annum and 
the growing season is about six months. About 17,000 acres of this 
land are now in cultivation under privately owned canals which do 
not furnish a full-water supply owing to the shortage in the latter 
part of the season which must be supplied by storage. Investigation 
of this project is well advanced and construction can be taken up as 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 23 

soon as negotiations with the landowners are satisfactorily concluded 
and funds are available. About 10 per cent of these are public lands 
and the rest are private lands. The reservoir and other necessary 
works are estimated to cost about $2,000,000. The principal crops 
available are alfalfa, small grains, and potatoes, and the locality 
would be good for a suitable beet-sugar factory. Good transporta- 
tion facilities are furnished by the Southern Pacific Railway. 

Pyramid Lake project. — In Washoe County, Nev., are about 19,000 
acres of irrigable land most of which is public land and part of 
which is allotted Indian lands which can be irrigated by a branch of 
the main canals of the Newlands project provided adequate storage 
is furnished. The growing season of this region is about 200 days 
and the average rainfall about 4 inches per annum. The elevation 
will average about 4,000 feet above sea level, and the principal crops 
are alfalfa, grain, and potatoes. None of this land is in cultivation 
but preliminary surveys have been made and construction may begin 
as soon as funds are provided and the legal rights as to the waters 
of Lake Tahoe have been settled. The proposed works will cost 
about $1,200,000. 

NEW MEXICO. 

Sam Juan project. — In northern New Mexico it appears feasible to 
divert the waters of the San Juan River to the southward for the 
irrigation of about 125,000 acres of irrigable land lying within and 
adjacent to the Navajo Indian Reservation, very little of which is 
under private ownership. The elevation of these lands will average 
about 5,200 feet above sea level. The average rainfall is about 8 
inches per annum and the growing season is about five months. The 
climate is suitable for temperate-zone crops such as alfalfa, cereals, 
vegetables, and fruits. The nearest railroad is the Denver & Rio 
Grande at Farmington, N. Mex., from 6 to 30 miles distant from 
various parts of the tract. Only a preliminary reconnaissance has 
been made of this project and this indicates that the necessary stor- 
age and distribution works are feasible but no estimate of cost has 
been made. 

Middle Rio Grande drainage project. — In Sandoval, Bernalillo, 
Valencia, and Socorro Counties, N. Mex., are about 100,000 acres of 
land in most of which the ground-water table is high and some of 
which is infertile for this reason. It is proposed to build drainage 
works for this region and by the provision of irrigation works to 
irrigate the same land. Preliminary investigations, most of which 
have been conducted by the State engineer of New Mexico, and 
which are still in progress, indicate that this tract is feasible and 
that it would cost between five and six million dollars. The entire 
tract is traversed longitudinally by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 
Railroad. The average rainfall is about 7^ inches per annum and 
the altitude from 1,500 to 5,200 feet above sea level. The products 
are those characteristic of the warm temperature zone. 

OREGON. 

Klamath project pumping units. — On the Klamath project in Ore- 
gon investigations have been made showing the feasibility of irrigat- 
ing about 23.000 acres of land lying above the present canals by some 



24 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

extensions and enlargements of the said canals, with power de- 
veloped in the neighborhood of Klamath Falls. The successful cul- 
tivation of the Klamath project demonstrates the adaptability of 
these lands to alfalfa, small grains, and vegetables. Some of the 
lands have been dry farmed with indifferent success. All are in pri- 
vate ownership but mostly held in tracts of 160 acres or less. In- 
vestigations are so far completed that construction can begin as soon 
as funds are available and arrangements can be made with the land 
owners. 

Klamath project, .^angell imit. — In Langell Valley, Oreg., are 
about 17,000 acres of irrigable land, most of which has been cultivated 
by dry-farming methods or by flooding from Lost River. This land 
is in private ownership and the owners have indicated a desire for 
storage which can be feasibly accomplished by the construction of the 
Horsefly Reservoir to store the necessary water. The proposed works 
are estimated to cost about $1,000,000. The growing season is about 
5 months, and the climate and soil are adapted to the growth of hay,, 
cereals, and potatoes. 

Klamath project, Tide Lake lands. — By the construction of the 
Tule Lake Reservoir and diversions from Lost River the sulplus 
water previously finding its way into Tule Lake has been greatly 
diminished and large areas of rich agricultural lands have been made 
available as the surface of the lake has receded through evaporation. 
To supply water for the irrigation of these lands enlargements and 
extensions of the irrigation works of the Klamath project are con- 
templated. All of this area is public land. A portion of the lake 
bed adjoining this area on the north Avas opened to settlement in 1917 
and its cultivation has shown excellent results. Investigations are 
complete and construction can be commenced whenever funds are 
available, but will have to proceed gradually on account of the slow 
lowering of the surface of the waters of Klamath Lake by evapora- 
tion and natural seepage, The proposed construction works will cost 
$1,250,000. 

Rogue River project. — Tn Jackson County, Oreg., it is possible to* 
irrigate about 30,000 acres of land from the Rogue River and tribu- 
taries properly supplemented by storage. The land lies at an eleva- 
tion of from 1,200 to 2,000 feet above sea level with an average 
rainfall of about 20 inches per annum, mostly in the winter. The 
growing season is from six to seven months. The climate and soil 
are adapted to the growth of forage crops and fruits, and good trans- 
portation is -furnished by the Southern Pacific Railway. Practically 
all of the land is in private ownership, and much of it is in cultiva- 
tion. In years of maximum rainfall irrigation is not needed, but 
in average seasons it will materially increase crop production, and in 
years of minimum rainfall crops can not be grown wkhout irriga- 
tion. Further investigation of this project is needed, and suitable 
agreement with the landowners will be necessary before construction 
can be taken up. Present information indicates a construction cost 
of about $2,000,000. 

Greater Umatilla project. — On the Umatilla project in Oregon 
about 20,000 acres are irrigated by the Reclamation Service, and fine 
crops of alfalfa, fruits, and vegetables are being produced. There 
are large adjacent areas of about 39,000 acres which might be added 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 25 

to this project by extension of the works and the provision of storage 
works. The altitude of this land is from 300 to TOO feet above sea 
level with an average rainfall of 8 to 9 inches per annum and a 
growing season of six to seven months. About one-third of this area 
is already cultivated and irrigated but does not receive full irriga- 
tion supply and consequently can not yield full production. 
Numerous petitions have been presented to the department for the 
Government to provide relief for the settlers by the construction of 
adequate storage facilities. Of the uncultivated area there are about 
3,500 acres of public land, 3,000 acres of railroad land, and the bal- 
ance is private. A suitable storage reservoir has been surveyed on 
McKay Creek, and preliminary investigations indicate the project 
as feasible, but further investigations are required. The cost of the 
necessary works will probably be about $3,100,000. 

Owyhee project. — By the construction of a storage reservoir on. 
the Owyhee River and of canals to distribute the stored water, it 
is feasible to irrigate about 23,000 acres of land in the vicinity of 
that river. At necessary drops in the canals suitable power plants 
may be constructed to water about 20 per cent of the land which 
lies above the canal. The lands lie from 2,150 to 2,350 feet above 
sea level and the average rainfall is about 10 inches per annum, 
with a growing season of about six months. The soil and climate 
are adapted to the growth of alfalfa, grains, potatoes, and fruits.. 
The Oregon Short Line Railway reaches this vicinity and furnishes 
transportation. About 17,000 acres of the land are in private own- 
ership and the balance public. The construction of this project de- 
pends upon the outcome of negotiations with landowners and the 
appropriation of necessarv funds. The works proposed are esti- 
mated to cost about $2,100^000. 

Deschutes project. — This project is divided into four units — the 
north side unit contains about 100,000 acres and is to be supplied 
by a canal from Deschutes River at Aubray Falls. The south side 
unit comprises 40,000 acres, to be served by a canal diverting from 
Deschutes River at Lava Falls ; the east side unit of 35,000 acres is 
to be served by a canal known as the north canal, constructed by 
the Central Oregon Irrigation Co. ; and the west side unit served 
by a canal diverting at the diversion dam for the north side unit 
at Laidlaw. The necessarv works are estimated to cost about $12,- 
000,000. The altitude of these lands is from 2,500 to 4,000 feet and 
the average rainfall varies from 9 to 10 inches. The growing sea- 
son will average about 120 days and the climate is adapted to the 
growth of hay, grain, and potatoes. Transportation is furnished 
by the Oregon Trunk Railway and the Oregon- Washington Railroad 
& Navigation Co. A sufficient water supply will require the con- 
struction of storage Avorks. The investigation of this project is 
now in progress. 

Lower Powder River project. — It is proposed to irrigate about 
50,000 acres of land along Powder River and vicinity, of which 
17,700 acres are withdrawn under the Carey Act; and 25,000 is in 
private ownership. The altitude of this land ranges from 2,700 
to 3,500 feet above sea level and it has an average annual rainfall 
of about 13 inches. The growing season is about 140 days and hay, 
small grains, vegetables, and fruits can be produced.. It is proposed 



26 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

to build two reservoirs and a series of canals to irrigate these lands 
and the probable cost will be $7,000,000. Further investigation of 
this project is required to ascertain its feasibility. These investi- 
gations are now in progress. 

Horsefly storage project. — It is proposed to store the waters of 
Miller Creek in Klamath County, Oreg., by the construction of the 
Horsefly storage reservoir. This would impound about 75,000 acre- 
feet of water for the irrigation of Langell and Yonna Valleys for 
use upon reclaimed lands in Tule Lake Basin. It would also assist 
in the progress of lowering the level of Tule Lake, making it pos- 
sible to reclaim additional lands from the bed of the lake. Addi- 
tional investigations of this reservoir are needed but the present in- 
formation indicates a feasible reservoir to cost about $300,000. 

SOUTH DAKOTA. 

Belle Fourche project storage. — The Belle 'Fourche project of the 
Reclamation Service is successfully irrigating about 80,000 acres of 
5 and, which has been supplied with canals and storage water from 
Owl Creek Reservoir. About 3,700 acres of additional land are also 
covered by canals, but lie too high for service from the Owl Creek 
Reservoir and require an additional reservoir for the 'best results. 
The private irrigation system managed by the Redwater Irrigation 
Association is also in need of storage and plans are in contempla- 
tion for construction on some equitable basis of the .so-called Chicken 
Creek Reservoir to furnish both tracts with irrigation water during 
the low stages of the Redwater Creek and the Belle Fourche River. 
It is also proposed to enlarge and extend a part of the present Belle 
Fourche project to cover about 15,000 additional acres in the Willow 
Creek and Nine-Mile Creek regions. The works necessary for these 
extensions of the Belle Fourche project are estimated to cost about 
$700,000. The lands to be benefited contain about 11.000 acres of 
unentered public and State lands. 

NEW MEXICO. 

Rio Grande project extension. — It is proposed to extend the irri- 
gation works of the Rio Grande project to cover two tracts known 
as the Tornilla and Fort Hancock tracts, lying below the El Paso 
Valley. These contain about 27,000 acres of irrigable land at an 
altitude averaging 3,500 feet above sea level. The growing season 
is about eight months in length and the rainfall averages about 8 
inches per annum. The climate and soil are adapted to the growth 
of all warm-temperate products, including cotton, corn, and fruits. 
The Southern Pacific Railwa} T system passes through the valley and 
furnishes good transportation.- Storage is already provided for 
these lands by the Elephant Butte Reservoir. It will be necessary 
to build drainage works as well as irrigation canals for the lands 
described. All of the land is in private ownership and 5,000 acres 
of it is now farmed by a small diversion of the waste water from 
the river. The water supply, however, is very unreliable and poor 
results are obtained. Some of these lands have recently made tem- 
porary water rental contracts and are being furnished with a stated 
supply from the Elephant Butte Reservoir. Further investigations 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 27 

and suitable agreements with the landowners will be required befoie 
these extensions can be constructed. They are estimated to cost 
$1,200,000. 

UTAH. 

Castle Peak project. — About 70,000 acres of land lying along the 
Deschutes River may be irrigated by the construction of canals to 
divert the natural flow of Strawberry and Deschutes Rivers supple- 
mented by storage. The average elevation of these lands is about 
5,200 feet and the growing season 160 days. The average annual 
rainfaU is from 8 to 10 inches per annum, and the climate and soil 
are adapted to the growth of alfalfa, sugar beets, and small grains 
if an adequate water supply is furnished. The nearest railroad 
facilities are 80 miles distant. The entire irrigable area-is public 
land, some of which has been entered, but the claimants have found 
it impossible to live upon their claims until water is furnished. 
Further investigations Avill be required, but present information 
indicates that the project can be constructed at a cost of about 
.$7,000,000. 

Price River project. — The irrigation of a portion of this tract 
was undertaken several years ago by private companies, which con- 
structed the Mammoth Reservoir on Price River. The reservoir 
failed and has not been reconstructed. The major portion of the 
irrigable land is unentered public land. Preliminary surveys have 
been made of Pleasant Valley Reservoir site and gauging stations 
established to determine the amount of water available for the 
development of this project. Further investigations are required, 
but present information indicates the feasibility of the irrigation of 
about 30,000 acres of land with water diverted from Price River 
supplemented by storage on Fish Creek. The average rainfall is 
about 12 inches per annum, and the climate and soil are adapted to 
the growth of hay, sugar beets, small grains, and vegetables. The 
Denver & Rio Grande Railroad passes through this tract. 

Dixie project. — In Washington County, Utah, there are about 
30,000 acres of irrigable land, which it is proposed to irrigate by 
diverting the waters of Virgin River, supplemented by storage in 
the upper part of that watershed. About 20,000 acres of this land 
are under cultivation, most of which has an insufficient water supply. 
The elevation of the valley varies from 2,500 to 4,000 feet-above sea 
level. The average rainfall varies from 8 to inches, and the grow- 
ing season is about 200 days. The valley is adapted to the growth 
of alfalfa, cotton, vegetables, fruits and nuts, and to all products 
of the warm Temperate Zone. The most accessible railroad to this 
tract is about 90 miles distant. Only a reconnoissance examination 
of this project has been made, and further examination will be nec- 
essary to establish its feasibility. 

Utah Valley drainage project. — In Utah County there are about 
30,000 acres which have been rendered more or less unproductive 
by a rising water table due to excessive irrigation and the unregu- 
lated flow of hundreds of artesian wells. It is proposed to construct 
drainage works to relieve these lands, but the investigations thereof 
are not complete. The present indications are that this system will 
cost about $1,000,000. All of the lands to be benefited are in private 



28 DEVELOPMENT OE UNUSED LANDS. 

ownership, and extensive .surveys Avill have to be made, drainage 
districts organized, and contracts entered into before the construction 
of this project can be taken up. The land averages about. 4,500 feet 
above sea level and has an average rainfall of 18 inches per annum. 
The growing season is about six months, and the climate and soil 
are adapted to the growth of hay, cereals, sugar beets, and vegetables.. 

WASHINGTON. 

Yakima project high line. — By the construction of high-line 
canals from the Yakima River and tributaries in Yakima and Ben- 
ton Counties, Wash., it is proposed to irrigate about 150,000 acres 
of land lying above the present canals. This land lies at elevations 
from 350 to 1,600 feet above sea level and its suitability for the 
growth of warm, temperate-zone products, including fruits, has 
been demonstrated. It is proposed to build adjacent storage reser- 
voirs and canals diverting from the Yakima and Naches Rivers 
and also to enlarge and extend the existing canals to some extent. 
The probable cost of the proposed works is about $20,000,000. In- 
vestigations of this are still in progress. The lands comprise about 
13,600 acres of unentered public land, 6,000 acres of State land ; and 
of private, entered public, and railroad, 130,000 acres. The entire 
region is served with excellent transportation by the Union Pacific, 
the Northern Pacific, and Milwaukee systems. While the investi- 
gations are not complete, the project is undoubtedly feasible if suit- 
able arrangements can be made with the landowners. 

Kittitas project — In Kittitas County, Wash., is an irrigable area 
of about 70,000 acres at varying altitudes from 1,500 to 2,200 feet 
above sea level. The average rainfall is about 9 J inches per annum 
and the growing season about five months. The climate and soil are 
adapted to the growth of alfalfa, small grains, sugar beets, fruits, 
and potatoes. Excellent transportation is furnished by the Northern 
Pacific and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railways. The ir- 
rigation plan contemplates the construction of additional storage 
reservoirs and a main canal diverting from Yakima River near 
Easton with necessary lateral systems. The proposed works are 
estimated to cost about $8,500,000. Most of the lands are included 
in the Kittitas reclamation district, which has been unable to market 
its securities. The surveys and construction plans are complete, 
and construction can be taken up promptly upon the provision of 
funds and a satisfactory contract with the irrigation district. Most 
of the lands are in private ownership, but about 5,000 acres are 
public land, 2,500 acres State land, and 9,300 acres railroad land. 

Washington storage projects. — The projects above named are with- 
out storage, and it is proposed to furnish this by the construction 
of one reservoir at Lake Clealum and one on the Tieton River. The 
cost of these reservoirs has been prorated to the projects above de- 
scribed. 



WYOMING. 



Rioerton project. — In Fremont County, Wyo., are situated about 
85.000 acres of irrigable land lying at elevations from 4,700 to 5,500 
feet above sea level. The average rainfall is in the neighborhood 
of 19 inches per annum, but irrigation is required for success- 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 29 

ful agriculture. The growing season is about five months, and the 
climate and soil are adapted to the growth of alfalfa, sugar beets, 
small grains, and vegetables. The Chicago & Northwestern Rail- 
way is about 25 miles from the center of the project and the Burling- 
ton about 6 miles from its eastern border. It is proposed to con- 
struct a reservoir at Bull Lake and to carry the waters from Wind 
River through a diversion canal about 30 miles along the northern 
boundary of the project from which branches and laterals will be 
constructed. This project is ready for construction without delay. 
About 40,000 acres of the land are in private ownership, 31,000 acres 
public land, and 13,000 acres State land. The proposed irrigation 
works will cost about $6,000,000. 

Frannie extension, Shoshone project. — This tract contains about 
39,000 acres of irrigable lands of which 15,000 acres are unentered 
public land yet to be supplied w^th water. They vary in altitude 
from 4,050 to 4,400 feet above sea level and have an average rainfall 
of about 6 inches per annum. The growing season is about five 
months and the climate and soil are adapted to the growth of alfalfa, 
sugar beets, small grains, and vegetables. Excellent transportation 
is furnished by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. This 
tract is a part of the Shoshone project of the Reclamation Service 
and additional works are required to complete its irrigation. These 
are estimated to cost about $500,000 and the information is that all is 
ready to begin construction. 

Will/wood division, Shoshone project. — This comprises about 18.000 
acres of irrigable land situated from 4,150 to 4,450' feet above sea 
level which has an average rainfall of about 6 inches per annum. It 
is a part of the Shoshone project and will receive water from the 
Shoshone Reservoir already constructed, but an independent diver- 
sion dam and main canal will be necessary. Construction might 
begin on this unit very shortly after funds are available, and the 
works are estimated to cost about $900,000. It is practically ali un- 
entered public land. 

Heart Mountain extension, Shoshone project. — The present Sho- 
shone project of the Reclamation Service contemplates diversion 
directly from Shoshone Reservoir already constructed to reach a 
tract of good land ranging from 4,600 to 5,200 feet above sea level 
and comprising about 38,000 acres. Transportation is furnished by 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad running to Cody. Pre- 
liminary surveys have been made for this project, but owing to the 
many construction difficulties involved a number of alternative 
schemes should be investigated in order to secure the most economical 
and satisfactory location and designs. Nearly all the land is un- 
entered public land or State land. The proposed works for this ex- 
tension are estimated to cost about $3,300,000. 

Oregon Basin project. — About 68,000. acres of land lying at an 
altitude of from 4,000 to 5,000 feet above sea level can be irrigated 
by diverting the waters from Shoshone Reservoir and carrying them 
to anel through the Oregon Basin, which will also be used for 
storage purposes, and the water delivered to lands in Oregon coulee 
and along Dry Creek, with possible extensions from Dry Creek to 
-cover lands adjacent to the Willwood division of the Shoshone 
project. A portion of the area covered by this project was once in 



30 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

eluded in a Carey Act project. Surveys are now being made by the 
Reclamation Service for the purpose of developing a complete irri- 
gation plan and to determine the lands which can be irrigated. None 
of the land is now under cultivation and it is practically all either 
unentered public or State school land. The work does not progress 
sufficiently to permit an estimate of cost, but the information avail- 
able indicates that a feasible project can be outlined. 

Byron-Cowley drainage project. — In Big Horn County, Wyo., the 
Byron-CoAvley irrigation district has been organized and estimate^ 
and surveys have been made for draining about 18,000 acres of land 
included in the district which require drainage. The lands lie from 
-t,000 to 4,500 feet above sea level, with an average rainfall of about 
6 inches per annum, and have a growing season of five months. 
Good transportation is furnished by the Chicago, Burlington & 
Quincy Railroad. The climate and soil are adapted to the growth 
of hay, small grains, and vegetables. The probable cost of the drain- 
age works necessary will be in the neighborhood of $-1-00,000. 

Guernsey Reservoir. — A short distance above the town of Guern- 
sey, on the North Platte River, it is proposed to construct a reser- 
voir with a capacity of 70,000 acre- feet to store the winter and flood 
flow of the river and its tributaries below the Pathfinder Reservoir, 
and to regulate the discharge from that reservoir. Its utility for the 
latter purpose is even greater than for the former. The water con- 
served by this reservoir is to be used for irrigation development 
along the Platte River Valley, which has been heretofore described 
in Wyoming and Nebraska. Plans for this work are under way and' 
construction could begin shortly after the provision of necessary 
funds. 



PART II. 



REPORT^ ON INVESTIGATIONS OF WET AND 

PRACTICALLY UNUSED LANDS IN 

THE SOUTHERN DIVISION. 



By H. T. CORY, Consulting Engineer. 



31 



WET AND PRACTICALLY UNUSED LANDS IN THE SOUTHERN 

DIVISION. 



FIELD INVESTIGATIONS. 

Limits of the southern division. — The southern division consists 
of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, Mary- 
land, Delaware, and all States to the south and east thereof — 16 
in all. 

Scope of the field investigations. — All field investigations in the 
southern district had as their objective the outlining of opportu- 
nities for attractive soldier settlement colonies, using these words in 
the very special sense hereinafter defined. Only to the extent that 
light was thrown upon such objective were data collected concerning 
areas of cut-over lands, wet lands, and unused lands in general or in 
particular. Preliminary investigations early developed the fact that 
there were numerous attractive opportunities in every one of the 
16 Southern States, and that the total acreages available therefor 
were quite large in each of these Commonwealths, with the single 
exception of Delaware, although the opportunities in Delaware are 
as great in proportion to its area as any other State. Thereupon 
typical projects were examined in considerable detail, tentative 
reclamation plans outlined, reconnaissance cost estimates prepared 
and in several States legally binding offerings of very large acre- 
ages secured from present owners. Especially is it emphasized that 
no attempt was made to select the best project site in any one State, 
but rather to find one or more — usually several — of entirely satis- 
factory and attractive character and to ascertain in a general way 
the actual and relative extent of each Commonwealth's resources 
for such special purpose. 

Personnel. — The investigations in Oklahoma, Kentucky, and West 
Virginia were begun by Mr. H. B. Griffith, a widely known attorney 
with much experience in land development. Unfortunately he was 
called away from the work on the signing of the armistice and was 
worthily succeeded by Mr. George E. Wheeler, formerly of the War 
Trade Board. 

The reconnaissance examination of projects in North Carolina 
was made by Mr. E. D. Vincent, M. Am. Soc. C. E., engineer of the 
United States Reclamation Service, and formerly construction en- 
gineer of the famous $1,800,000 Laguna Dam across the Colorado 
River near Yuma, Ariz. Corresponding work in South Carolina 
was done by Maj. E. P. Bebb, Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E., of the 
engineering division of the service, and in Georgia and Florida by 
Mr. D. W. Cole, M. Am. Soc. C. E., former project manager of the 
United States Reclamation Service Boise project. 

141901— H. Doc. 262, 66-1 3 33 



34 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

Mr. D. W. Ross, M. Am. Soc. C. E., the well-known western con- 
sulting engineer, formerly supervising engineer of the United 
States Reclamation Service and later general manager and chief 
engineer of the largest irrigation colonization project in the Sacra- 
mento Valley, had general charge of the work in those States com- 
mercially tributary to New Orleans, viz, Louisiana, Texas, Missis- 
sippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee. He was assisted by Mr. 
P. W. Welty, Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E., recently superintendent of 
the Cameron County water improvement district No. 2, in Texas; 
Mr. L. G. Sinnard, the western colonization expert, for several years 
with the Atascadero projects, San Luis Obispo, Calif., and several 
others. 

The southern district has been in charge of Mr. H. T. Cory, M. 
Am. Soc. C. E., who made the reconnaissance examinations in Mary- 
land, Virginia, Delaware, and parts of Florida, and the regional 
inspections of certain other States, viz, North Carolina, South Caro- 
lina, Georgia, and Florida. 

Especial thanks are due a number of organizations and individuals 
for hearty cooperation and valuable assistance in many phases of the 
work. Among these bodies are the chambers of commerce at Waco, 
Beaumont, Houston, and San Antonio, Tex. ; Memphis, Tenn. ; Birm- 
ingham and Montgomery, Ala.; Lake Charles, La.; Oklahoma City, 
Tulsa, and Pawhuska, Okla. ; Louisville, Ky.; Commercial Club 
of Nashville, Tenn.; Association of Commerce and the Southern 
Pine Association, New Orleans; the Florida Tick Eradication Com- 
mittee, Jacksonville, Fla. ; the Morgan Engineering Co., Memphis, 
Tenn.; the Southern Engineering Co., Clarksdale, Miss.; the Isam 
Randolph Engineering Co., Chicago, 111. ; and numerous State coun- 
cils of defense, State officials, State agricultural colleges and experi- 
ment stations, State and regional special committees, and quite a few 
southern railroads. 

The individuals rendering notable assistance were Messrs. Hugh 
McRea, of Wilmington, N. C. ; Clement S. Ucker, of Baltimore, Md. ; 
A. G. T. Moore, of New Orleans ; ex-Gov. D. C. Hey ward, of Colum- 
bia, S. C. ; Dr. W. T. Blackman, of Jacksonville, Fla. ; Alex K. Ses- 
soms and F. H. Abbott, of Waycross, Ga.; F. L. Finkenstaedt, of 
Bolton, N. C. ; Walter Parker and A. T. Dusenberry, of New 
Orleans; D. T. Kennedy, of Richmond, Va.; and Dr. Steffens, of 
Baltimore, Md. 

Plan of investigation. — The investigations differed according to 
local conditions. In some States, questionnaires were sent out to the 
larger land owners by associations and local committees, and con- 
siderable publicity given to the work. In other States, information 
was acquired more quietly. In every case the purpose was to learn 
as soon as possible where attractive project opportunities would 
most likely be found and to outline one or more of them. 

There might very well be many million acres of unused land in 
any given territory, and yet impracticable or impossible to block 
out a compact project of any considerable size at a reasonable acre- 
age price. Rather unexpectedly it soon became evident that definite 
project opportunities were numerous as well as acreages of unused 
and practically unused land enormous, and that the problem was not 
in finding project sites, but in selecting the best of many. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 35 

Further, it was found impracticable to decide upon the most avail- 
able project sites in any one State until the amount of money avail- 
able for it was fixed. This is because it is desirable to have rather 
large colonies in the South, whatever may be the case elsewhere. The 
reasons for this are in large part the reasons why the trend of emi- 
gration has been chiefly westward and but slightly southward. 

Consequently no instrumental data were collected; except in the 
case of Delaware, the probabilities were that costly work would be 
done on other tracts than the one finally selected. 

Unused lands. — In the general sense of the expression, unused 
lands include, among others, all those parcels or lots not under cul- 
tivation scattered about in closely settled and highly developed 
areas. In the special sense as used herein the term refers to larger 
areas, most of the lands in which are now not utilized agriculturally 
or at best in a perfunctory manner. 

Types of unused or undeveloped lands. — There is an enormous 
acreage of unused lands in the southern division, a considerable part 
of which is well adapted for agricultural purposes. There are five 
classes of such lands, although these classes overlap a little. 

First, there are the mountains of the Appalachian system extend- 
ing from Pennsylvania southwesterly as far as northern Alabama. 
The forests originally covering these highlands have been quite 
largely cut over. Land is often owned in great tracts, chiefly for 
coal and timber, and the agricultural adaptation is mainly- grazing, 
orchards, and reforestation. 

Next are the " abandoned lands " found chiefly in New England 
and the South. These are often the best areas naturally, that were 
first settled upon, but which for various reasons were allowed to 
" go back." Very often they are inferior timber lands as well, and 
are included as cut-over lands in statistics. The chief factors respon- 
sible for abandoned lands are : 

(1) Depleted fertility due to poor agriculture. 

(2) Social and economic changes due to the Civil War. 

(3) Competition of newer agricultural areas. 

(4) Dearth of agricultural man power after the war. 

(5) Increased tenantry resulting. 

These southern " abandoned lands " are chiefly found in the Pied- 
mont and sub-Piedmont territories are in the rice-land " stretches 
along the rivers near tidewater. 

Another class is cut-over land. Originally there was pine forest 
all along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Norfolk, Va., to Galves- 
ton, Tex. This has been pretty well cut over, and in the coastal plain 
the land left has until recently been considered an almost valueless 
by-product. A considerable part of this immense area is best adapted 
to reforestation, but a great deal is well suited for high agricul- 
tural development. 

The fourth class is made up of the " wet lands." These are of two 
types — " swamp " and " overflowed." The latter are along the many 
southern streams which have severe flashy floods, but are largely 
bottom lands along the Mississippi River. The former are chiefly 
along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Norfolk, Va., including 
most of Florida, to Brownsville, Tex., at the Mexican border. The 
total nren of wet lands, while enormous, is but a fraction of the cut- 
ever lar^ls. Further, much of the wet lants are cut-over lands also. 



36 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

The last class is found in but one State of the southern division — 
Texas — and is land which needs to be and can be irrigated. The 
precipitation curves show that throughout the entire division except 
western Oklahoma and west Texas the rainfall is ample and well 
distributed for general agriculture on ordinary soils. The rainfall 
variations in Oklahoma and Texas should be particularly noted, 
the former being especially interesting as the differences range 
from 50 to 16 inches in 400 miles and from 50 to 30 inches in 180 
miles. 

Distribution of unused land. — The location of the third and fourth 
classes of unusued lands are shown on the maps, Plate II and 
Plate III, of the United States and of the southern district. The 
first of these shows at a glance why the opportunities for attractive 
soldier settlement projects are relatively so abundant in. the South. 
Of course many factors must be considered — amount of unused land, 
size of present holdings, and ability to block up reasonably compact 
projects, soil fertility and crop adaptation, land prices, costs of com- 
plete reclamation (using this term in the special sense hereinafter 
defined), transportation facilities — railroads and main highways — 
character of and nearness to markets, sociological environment, 
climate and healthfulness, anticipated prices for the most important 
agricultural products, probable extent of " unearned increment " in 
the reasonably near future, etc. Comment upon certain phases of 
colonization in the South will be found under a subsequent heading. 
Suffice it to say that careful consideration of the region as a whole 
was given and the conclusion seems unavoidable that the maps quite 
truly indicate the actual as well as the superficial extent of soldier 
settlement opportunities in the South and that — 

(1) The existing resources in the way of planned rural develop- 
ment opportunities within the southern division at least equal those 
of any other part of the United States. 

(2) Such existing resources are so located with respect to State 
boundaries as to suggest essential equality of soldier settlement op- 
erations in each of the several States, except Delaware, Maryland, 
and Texas. 

Real value of unused lands.— The simple fact that almost all the 
land in any considerable area anywhere in the entire country is almost 
or wholly agriculturally undeveloped, is prima facie evidence that 
something serious is wrong with it. It is all very well to say that 
many times erroneuos preconceived ideas carry on indefinitely — some- 
times, of course, they do — or that some clay the changed conditions 
will show the true worth, etc. As a matter of fact, however, the 
American is so great a rover, is so alert to " make a turn," and has 
such omnipresent agencies for collecting and transmitting facts and 
ideas, that " bargains " nowadays do not lie around above ground for 
very many years anywhere within the Nation's borders. For this 
reason many people urge that trying to establish the returned soldiers, 
sailors, and marines upon large tracts of waste, cut-over, swamp, and 
arid lands is a poor way of displaying national gratitude and helping 
those heroes to get on in the world. 

The real facts are that the trouble with some unused lands can be 
obviated with expenditures upon ordinary scales and within reason- 
able periods of time ; and with other unused lands only with enormous 
expenditures or great lengths of time or both. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 37 

Most unused land in the southern district is of the latter type, and 
not a little will command any considerable price only in the rather 
distant future. The trouble with much of it, however, can be com- 
pletely cured for surprisingly low costs and in very short spaces of 
time if done by operations on a very large scale. 

The trouble with " abandoned lands " in the southern district is 
less fundamental than in many other localities. George Washington 
was the richest man in America when he died and his property con- 
sisted of negro slaves and a little less than 6,000 acres of Virginia 
land, of which to-day but a small portion is farmed. Generally 
speaking, the fertility has been depleted, but that can be restored at 
quite reasonable costs and in a relatively few years. 

But relatively low productivity has brought in its train something 
far more difficult to handle. It is locality " backwardness.'- The am- 
bitious have steadily gone out to more promising fields of human ac- 
tivity with the result that little and often negative progress has been 
made in local community life, while throughout the Nation as a 
whole, in rural as well as industrial communities, advances in civili- 
zation have been very great. 

Thus it is that while " abandoned land " can be brought back often 
to high fertility much cheaper than raw lands in new sections can be 
subdued, or in progressive sections purchased, nevertheless its desira- 
bility and hence its sale price when renovated is often less than the 
necessary expenditures upon it. In other words, a fertile, revamped 
farm in the midst of a large area of abandoned land would have so 
much less real value than were it in the midst of a progressive region. 
Only part of the trouble can be removed by any individual, the low 
fertility and the rest of it will normally take a long time according 
to American standards. 

To do the job completely it is necessary to treat relatively large 
compact tracts as a whole, and not only renovate the soil but also wipe 
off the existing developments to such an extent as to quite obliterate 
social institutions, folkways, standard of living, and habits of 
thought, and establish in place thereof modern communities. This, 
however, requires large amounts of money under one control — in 
other words, operations on a large scale. 

Similarly, the real value of a thoroughly up-to-date, completely 
developed farm in the midst of a great tract of cut-over land is 
quite low. The few inhabitants almost invariably have low stand- 
ards of living and social interests, and the time normally required 
for the region as a whole to develop is too long to make the invest- 
ment of money and nervous energy in producing a good farm at- 
tractive to the ambitious man. But if really large tracts are taken 
and entire communities treated in one operation the total costs will 
be very well worth while — again a matter of operation upon a scale 
far beyond the reach of individuals, even though assembled together 
in cooperative organizations of a practicable size. 

With wet lands the case is even more aggravated in that an indi- 
vidual farm is not generally possible without comprehensive drain- 
age systems or levee systems, or both. Proper sanitation requires 
mesquite abatement and this can not be successful on a small scale. 

Few desirable areas of any size in the southern district, i. e., in 
Texas, which require irrigation are 1 yet undeveloped areas, except 
those the irrigation works for which must be very large and costly. 



38 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

In some cases the acreage cost for complete reclamation is too high 
to be attractive under present conditions, but even when this is not 
the case only operations on a very large scale are to be considered, 
usually. 

In short, the way most economical both in money and human 
struggling and tragedy, and often the only feasible way, to get into 
use or reclaim " unused lands " is by large-scale operations and 
planned rural communities. The investigations which are the sub- 
ject of this report disclosed the fact that there are enormous acreages 
of these lands, which can be profitably reclaimed and which would 
then be admirably adapted for agricultural purposes. 

Land settlement in the South. — The thought naturally suggests 
itself that 25 years ago the utilization of arid lands in the West 
reached a stage where further progress involved operations upon 
large scales, yet the last two decades have been most glorious in 
achievements, and only very large scale or scattered opportunities are 
now open. How, then, does it happen that so many opportunities 
are yet available in the South? 

It is indeed peculiar that the real frontier in America is in the 
Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain. The South has lagged behind the 
country, and particularly the West, in land settlement, and the rea- 
sons therefor are not only interesting but throw important light upon 
the nature and kind of soldier settlement projects most desirable 
there. These in approximate order of their importance are : 

(1) The history of the East, the South, the Mississippi Valley, and 
the West as the characteristics of original colonists, types of agricul- 
ture they brought with them and developed over there, methods of 
acquiring land holdings, conditions of labor, etc. There are so many 
thoughts suggested in this sentence that lack of space alone prevents 
yielding to the temptation to elaborate upon it. 

(2) The slogan " Go West, young man, and grow up with the 
country." It was the logical outgrowth of American sociological con- 
ditions prior to Appomatox, and so it had a most effective punch. 
In modern terminology the expression per se was propaganda most 
far reaching in its effects upon those types who follow the crowd 
rather blindly. 

(3) Numerous areas of practically free Government lands in the 
Middle and far Western States. 

(4) The widespread impression that the sentimental differences be- 
tween the North and the South because of the war tend to make new- 
comers uncomfortable. 

(5) The ideas current outside the South of the Negro's anomalous 
place in the social, industrial, and agricultural life of the region and 
the natural inference that the white manual laborer's -social caste is 
lower in Dixie than elsewhere in the country. 

(6) The feeling that the South is unhealthy because of the sec- 
tional epidemics of yellow fever, prevalence of malaria, and exclusive 
home of the hookworm. Though it has been known for a good many 
years that the first two of these diseases are misquito borne and that 
all are preventable, the prejudice lingers yet. 

(7) The idea that the long, hot summers and the short mild win- 
ters constitute climatic conditions tending to slow undermining of 
aggressiveness and enterprise. It is kept alive by the outside impres- 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 39 

sion of commercial, industrial, and, to a less extent, agricultural 
development in the Southeastern States. 

(8) The existence of enormous forest areas from Norfolk, Va., to 
Galveston, Tex., along the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains and 
extending well back into the Piedmont regions. These are largely 
cut-over lands now. 

(9) The holding to money-crop agriculture — tobacco, cotton, or 
corn, as the case may be — in considerable part due to tenantry since 
the war. 

These and quite a few other but less important factors are respon- 
sible for the South's failing to share in empire building with the 
West in proportion to natural resources therefor. 

Success of soldier settlements. — In the face of so marked a national 
phenomenon the wisdom of attempting soldier settlement work in a 
large way naturally suggests itself. 

Whatever might have been the case 25 years ago, the conditions in 
the southern district are now as favorable, all things considered, as 
in the North and West, provided, and only provided, the community 
settlements are of considerable size. 

The movement westward has resulted in making agricultural land 
values really higher in the Western States, everything considered, 
than elsewhere in the country. Then it turned north, and 1,600,000 
Americans have gone over into Canada during the great settlement 
movement of the Canadian northwest begun a few years before the 
World War. There are a few sporadic instances indicating that the 
beginnings of a trend back and to the South are in evidence. Doubt- 
less these will steadily but slowly increase. The plain facts are that 
something spectacular is necessary to break up the existing psychol- 
ogy not only of the American people but of foreign immigrants to 
America as to the relative opportunities in the South and in the West 
for securing agricultural homes. 

After careful examination of many data and numerous confer- 
ences with leading southern public-spirited men, the only thing that 
is at the same time practical and probably successful to be thus far 
suggested, is for the United States Government as such to place its 
stamp of approval upon numerous sections throughout the South. 
Of course, this has in effect been clone, in that one department has 
approved of its soil conditions; another department has investigated 
and published many data concerning its biological features; and a 
third has been giving publicity to crop adaptations, etc., but all 
of these facts go out independently and piecemeal — one might say, 
ooze out — and attract little attention. 

Thus it is that soldier settlement projects well scattered throughout 
the South would have an indirect result perhaps more far-reaching 
and significant than all the direct results combined. They would 
afford a noteworthy form of the National Government's stamp of 
approval upon certain typical southern agricultural home opportuni- 
ties, and doubtless do more to change the attitude of the American 
people in respect to settlement tendencies westward and southward 
than would normally occur in several decades. Much of the public's 
attention will be centered upon soldier settlement projects wherever 
located, but information concerning such matters in the West would 
but be " more about the broken window " because of the great amount 
of publicity which has been given to the Reclamation Service projects 



4Q DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

during the past 16 years. The descriptions of southern soldier settle- 
ment projects in technical and popular journals, magazines and per- 
iodicals, on the other hand, would be sounding a new note and would 
attract more than a proportionate amount of attention. 

Consequently the soldier settlement colonies in the Southland 
would mean more, and be far more helpful to that region than similar 
colonies in other parts of the United States. 

Another feature of southern soldier settlements is that they should 
in general be large. Size is a more important element of success here 
than elsewhere because there is more " backwardness " in the rural 
population throughout the cheap land areas of the South than else- 
where and particularly in the West. Undue dependence has been 
placed upon Negro labor and one-money-crop agriculture is too gen- 
erally practiced. In localities where soldier settlement opportunities 
would probably be located the agricultural status is much behind the 
times. Consequently here more than anywhere else it would be de- 
sirable to minimize the influence of folk ways, social institutions, and 
agricultural methods, and begin from the ground upward to create 
a totally new community life, to insure which communities must be 
relatively large. 

On the other hand, by this same token, the southern colonies will 
be among the most attractive per se of any in the country — that is 
to say, the planned rural communities will begin here more nearly 
with clean slate than almost anywhere else, so that the final result 
will grade high in the scale of modernity. They will also enjoy in 
their settings well nigh the greatest degree of " unearned increment " 
increases. 

Summarizing, then, the success of soldier settlements upon the 
unused or partially used southern lands should be great, due to: 

(1) Completeness of project as a planned rural community. 

(2) The relative advance in planned rural development over the 
existing local standards. 

(3) The far-reaching effect upon the whole southeastern part of 
the United States by numerous demonstrations of the country's nat- 
ural resources as distinct from its agricultural development up to 
this time. 

Typical soldier settlement opportunities. — A brief statement fol- 
lows concerning the conditions obtaining in each of the 16 States com- 
prising the southern district with respect to soldier settlements. In 
all except Delaware numerous project opportunities were found and 
undoubtedly there are many more that would be brought forward 
on giving organized publicity along State-wide lines of being ready 
to begin work upon a definite basis. 

Space would not permit describing even briefly each of the several 
project opportunities gone over, so that in general but one in any one 
State is specifically outlined. By no means, however, should it be 
inferred that the project selected for description is the one most fa- 
vored either by the respective States soldier-settlement committee or 
by representatives of the Interior Department. Projects were arbi- 
trarily chosen, chiefly with a view to presenting in some detail the 
facts concerning an opportunity generally typical of those in any one 
State. It is particularly desired to emphasize the fact that projects 
selected for description are under no circumstances to be considered 
as being the most available or the most desirable of those in the 
State concerned. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 41 

What is meant by a completed or going -concern farm. — In this re- 
port the expression " completed or going-concern farm " is used as 
meaning a farm averaging about 50 acres in size with the following 
characteristics : 

(1) Home and farm buildings. 

(2) Fencing. 

(3) Two-thirds the land ready for cultivation, completely cleared. 

(4) Remaining third thinned out for pasturage. 

(5) All drainage systems, project and individual, completed. 

(6) All land for cultivation completely dosed with lime, etc. 

(7) All project public roads built. 

. (8) All sanitation and mosquito abatement work done. 

(9) Five hundred dollars' worth of stock and farming equipment. 

Raw and developed land values. — Until within a relatively short 
time ago, raw land values (in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain 
particularly) were quite low. Cut-over land was even considered as 
a practically valueless by-product of lumber. Many million acres of 
wet lands were sold in large blocks at 10 and 25 cents per acre. 

The value of agricultural farm lands in the United States has 
trebled since 1900 — in the past 19 years — and this has had a marked- 
effect upon the selling price of undeveloped lands in the South as 
well as elsewhere. Landowners have quite generally discounted the 
increase due to general development throughout the region, and it 
is quite interesting to note the uniformity of the asking prices for 
land of this type throughout the entire territory. Apparently this 
has risen from $1 to $10 per acre in the past 15 years. 

It may be interesting to inquire concerning the reasonableness of 
such increase and as to how far it is justifiable under the circum- 
stances. It would, however, be academic, because there is little chance 
of these land values being reduced in the immediate future at least, 
and every probability is that they will continue on up. It might have 
been fortunate could lands for soldier-settlement projects have been 
secured 10 years ago, but they were not. The condition, not the 
theory, exists, and land prices seem to be consistent quite generally 
throughout the southern district. 

The values of such lands fully developed. — Another interesting fea- 
ture — taking the most obviously attractive soldier-settlement proj- 
ects — is that the final cost of a completed farm in the sense herein 
used, is surprisingly near the same all over the territory. In one case 
the expense for drainage will be more, in which event the cost for 
clearing will be less. In another, road building will be more dif- 
ficult and soil treatment simpler and cheaper. Except in the case 
of the suggested stock-raising colonies in the Appalachian Moun- 
tains, the probable cost of completed farms hovers surprisingly close 
to $120 per acre. 

Probable value of completed farm lands. — Naturally one of the 
first questions which would properly be asked about soldier-settlement 
land is the relative cost to produce completed farms and the probable 
sale value on completion. It is just as plain that the probable average 
cost on a diversified farming project, regardless of location through- 
out the district — taking the most attractive opportunities, of course — 
hovers close to the $120 per acre. A thing of vital importance to the 
plan, and particularly to the prospective soldier purchaser, is the 
value of the land immediately after possession of the place has 



42 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

been turned over to the proposed settlers. This probable value 
is rather difficult to estimate except upon the basis of prices now 
obtaining for really attractive farm tracts within a few miles of the 
larger settlements. On such a basis, the average value of the com- 
pleted farm would be at least $150 per acre — anyway, a 20 per cent 
leeway over and above cost. 

SUMMARY. 

Summarizing the conditions in the 16 States in the southern dis- 
trict, it is evident that: 

1 ( ) In every State but Delaware there are numerous soldier-settle- 
ment opportunities. 

(2) That in all of the States except Delaware the problem is 
not to find suitable project opportunities but to select the most 
available one. 

(3) That there is quite a surprising similarity of project-oppor- 
tunity resources in all of the States except Delaware, and, to a lesser 
extent, Maryland. 

(4) That there is a very marked uniformity of basic raw values, 
and also of the final costs of completed farms. 

(5) That the leeway of market value over cost of completed or 
going-concern farms should average at least 20 per cent. 

ALABAMA. 

The investigations in Alabama have been carried on in cooperation 
with the committees appointed by the governors of the State. The 
first committee was named in the fall of 1918 by the Hon. Charles 
Henderson, then the State's executive, and consisted of : Gov. Charles 
Henderson, chairman, Montgomery ; W. J. Harlan, Lockhart ; Eich- 
ard M. Hobbie, Montgomery; H. H. Snell, Birmingham; Allen 
Northington, Prattville; E. B. Barnes, Opelika. 

This committee was replaced the latter part of February, 1919, 
by the Alabama Post- War Council of Defense, a body created by the 
legislature just adjourned, to handle the State's reconstruction and 
other postwar problems, and is now constituted as follows: Gov. 
Thomas H. Kilby, chairman, Montgomery; Fred H. Gormley, vico 
chairman, clerk of house of representatives, Montgomery; Dr. J. F. 
Dugger, director Alabama Experiment Station, Auburn ; Mrs. James 
F. Hooper, Selma ; Dr. Thomas M. Owen, director of history depart- 
ment, Montgomery; W. S. Keller, State highway engineer, Mont- 
gomery ; Dr. W. S. Welch, State health officer, Montgomery ; Spright 
Dowell, State superintendent of education, Montgomery; M. C. 
Allgood, commissioner of agriculture, Montgomery. 

The total area figures for the State are : 

Acres. 

Land 33, 000, 000 

In crops 10, 600, 000 

Unimproved in farms 11,000,000 

Merchantable timber 5, 200. 000 

Cut-over land 15, 000, 000 

Swamp land 900, 000 

Wet grazing land 60, 000 

Overflow lands 525, 000 

Total number of farms, 280,000. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 43 

That is to say, nearly half the State consists of cut-over lands, 
only one-third cultivated, and relatively little is wet or swampy. 

In general, the southern third of the State is coastal plain, the 
middle third the so-called central highlands, and the northern third 
foothill country. The southwestern tip lies below the 100-foot con- 
tour, the coastal plain below the 300-foot contour, the central high- 
lands between the 300-foot and the 1,000-foot contour, and the foot- 
hill section from the 1,000-foot contour up to a maximum elevation of 
2,400 feet. The surface, particularly of the coastal plain, rises 
quite steadily from the coast and streams. 

The coastal plain and central highlands were generally covered 
with fine long-leaf pine timber, most of which has been cut over. The 
recent cuttings are quite thorough and in some cases even the small 
hardwood trees are removed, leaving an open expanse of stump and 
brush. In older tracts the brush has been burned and in its place are 
scrub oaks and bushes, and often young pines. In the older tracts 
timber was cut sparingly — sometimes 30 years ago — and now there 
are not only good-sized second-growth pines but some of the original 
long-leaf trees and the hardwoods. Here second cutting is going on 
to some extent. 

From the 15,000,000 acres of cut-over and wet land, it is relatively 
simple, by the process of elimination, to segregate the 10 per cent best 
suited for soldier settlement, taking into account topography, soil, 
transportation, land ownerships, extent and character of rural de- 
velopment, nature of surface vegetation, and prices. The selection of 
the best 100,000-acre project from such 10 per cent was not attempted 
and should be made by the Alabama postwar council of defense 
and the Interior Department acting jointly. It is believed that 
soldier settlement work in this State should be concentrated in one 
project. 

Consideration has been given several feasible projects in the State; 
others have been suggested, but have not yet been examined^ and 
doubtless there will be still others to claim attention when the author- 
ity and funds are provided for the actual initiation of development 
plans. In this report the essential facts relative to only one typical 
opportunity are gh r en. The data, however, are fairly applicable to 
several others, a detailed description of which, therefore, would be 
superfluous at this time. The final selection of a project or projects, 
it is understood, of course, will be determined jointly by the postwar 
council of defense and the Interior Department after careful consid- 
eration of all offerings. 

The Brewton project. — The Brewton project is located in the north 
central part of Escambia County and the south central part of 
Conecuh County, Ala., and in the northern end of Santa Rosa 
County, Fla. Brewton, Ala., with a population of 2,500, is the county 
seat of Escambia County, and is on the main, line of the Louisville 
& Nashville Railway from New Orleans to Montgomery. The Pensa- 
cola and Selma branches skirt the western edge of the project and no 
lands are over 6 miles from a railroad. 

The elevation varies from 50 to 300 feet above sea level. The 
country varies from rolling to undulating, with possibly 20 per cent 
of the land rough and 10 per cent swampy along water courses. The 
drainage is good and the creeks have good fall. Very little of the 



44 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

land is topographically unsuited to cultivation, most of the upland 
requiring neither ditching nor terracing. A considerable part of the 
second bottoms need, in addition to drainage, a little diking to prevent 
overflow. 

The United States Bureau of Soils in cooperation with the Ala- 
bama Department of Agriculture and Industry has made soil sur- r 
veys of the west end of Santa Rosa County, Fla. (in 1906) and of 
both Conecuh (in 1912) and Escambia (in 1913) Counties, Ala. 
According to these, agriculture, particularly in Escambia County- — 

is in its infancy. Lumbering and turpentining have been the dominant indus- 
tries in this county for a number of years. The merchantable timber has now 
been largely removed, and extensive areas are available for agricultural occupa- 
tionr About 90 per cent of its area consists _of cut-over lands and forests of. 
mixed timber and pine. The agricultural development has been very slow until, 
recently. 

Escambia County promises to become one of the most promising agricultural 
counties in the State. Its topography and climate, wide diversity of soils, and 
abundant water supply are favorable to a successful agriculture, including the 
production of a wide range of crops and the development of the live-stock and 
dairy interests. (Field Operations of the Bureau of Soils, 1913, United States 
Department of Agriculture, pp. 831-870.) 

The growing season has an average length of 260 days, affording 
ample time in which to mature at least two principal crops in a sin- 
gle season. 

As to climate, the mean temperature during the summer months is 
82° with a maximum of 105°, the nights being pleasant because the 
prevailing winds are from the south, cooled by the Gulf. The 
winters are mild with a mean temperature of about 50°, a minimum 
seldom below 12°, and the prevailing winds from the west. Snow 
seldom falls and ice forms only occasionally. The mean rainfall is 
about 58 inches, is heaviest during the summer months and lightest 
during the fall or harvesting time, and is generally adequate and well 
distributed for the successful growing of crops. Droughts are prac- 
tically unknown. 

The country is well watered, and good well water is found on the 
uplands at a depth of 12 to 50 feet. Artesian water of excellent 
quality is obtained at from 40 to 1,200 feet and there are many 
springs — one large one about 14 miles east of Brewton has a flow of 
about 2,000,000 gallons daily. 

The land in this project is held in quite large tracts, five interests 
alone controlling a total of 178,000 acres in almost a solid block. 

The price asked is $10 per acre. 

The reclamation work would consist of some drainage and leveeing, 
clearing, addition to the soil of lime, nitrate of soda, phosphate, and 
humus, and road building. 

Going-concern farms — using the term as hereinbefore defined — 
would certainly cost not to exceed $125 per acre, so that a 80,000-acre 
soldier settlement would require not more than $10,000,000. 

A good demonstration of the suitability for soldier settlements of 
this general region has been made by several colonies near Foley, 
Baldwin County, Ala., about 25 miles to the southeast, where the 
climate and soil conditions are essentially the same. These colonies 
have been established during the last 12 years. The average size of 
farm unit is about 40 acres. The agriculture is diversified, the roads 
are good, and the people evidently prosperous. Indeed, several of 



DEVELOPMENT OE UNUSED LANDS. 45 

.the newer places would be a credit even to California, where so much 
money has been spent on show places and in demonstration work. 



Alabama Post-War Council of Defense, 

Montgomery, Ala., May 13, 1919. 

Mr. H. T. Coey, 

Consulting Engineer, United States Reclamation Service, 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Mr. Cory: My delay in answering your telegram has been due to my 
desire to obtain from our committee opinions about the copy which you fur- 
nished me. It has been returned with the statement that there was no need 
for a further statement in connection with the Alabama projects than that the 
Alabama Post-War Council of Defense holds options on something over 200,000 
acres of land which we are prepared to submit to you at any time. 

Many requests for information about soldier-settlement colonies in Alabama 
have come from Alabama soldiers who desire to engage in farming, and the 
idea is one of the most popular I have ever known in this section. Your atten- 
tion is called to the inclosed resolution adopted by the two houses of the legis- 
lature urging Congress to take prompt action. 

You may be assured that when Congress has approved the plan the post-war 
council of defense will assist the Reclamation Service in its efforts to obtain 
the most suitable project or projects in Alabama. 
Yours, truly, 

Fred H. Gormley, Vice Chairman. 



Alabama Agriculture and Industries Department, 

Montgomery, May 19, 1919. 

Mr. Fred H. Gormley, 

Vice Chairman Alabama Post-War Council of Defense, 

Montgomery, Ala. 

Dear Mr. Gormley : I have taken great pleasure in going over the surveys 
made in Alabama- by Mr. H. T. Cory, consulting engineer of the United States 
Reclamation Service, and I want to assure you that his report of conditions in 
Alabama are true and that the State department of agriculture is prepared to 
assist the Federal Government in whatever future investigations it may care 
to make of Alabama lands suggested for the soldier-settlement colonies. 

Lands around Brewton and contiguous territory, including the project espe- 
cially mentioned by Mr. Cory, are excellent for farming and cut-over lands in 
this section can be available for agriculture after the expenditure of reason- 
able amounts for improvements. 

The department of agriculture is prepared to lend whatever assistance the 
Federal Government and Alabama Post-War Council of Defense may need in 
this matter. 

Yours, truly, 

M. C. Allgood, 
Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. 

ARKANSAS. 

The investigations in Arkansas have been carried out in coopera- 
tion with a committee appointed by the Arkansas State Council of 
Defense, consisting of Fred Heiskell, chairman, Little Rock; Leo 
Andrews, Pine Bluff ; Allan Kennedy, Fort Smith ; Bruce Campbell, 
Helena; Henry Moore, jr., Texarkana; Gen. Lloyd England, Little 
Rock; E. J. Bodman, Little Rock; C. T. Coleman, Little Rock; 
M. W. Hardy, Little Rock; D. C. Welty, Little Rock. 



46 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED* LANDS. 

The total area figures for the State are: 

Land 33, 600, 000 

In crops 7, 400, 000 

Unimproved in farms 9, 300, 000 

Merchantable timber „ 6, 500, 000 

Cut-over lands ^ 14, 500, 000 

Swamp lands 5, 250, 000 

Wet grazing lands 50,000 

Overflow lands 530,000 

Total number of farms, 230,000. 

That is to say, nearly half of the State consists of cut-over lands. 
Less than one-fourth was cultivated last year, and about one-sixth is 
technically classified as swamp, although actually much drainage has 
been completed since the census. 

In a general way the northwestern part of the State comprises an 
inland terrace above the 500-foot contour, the remainder being coastal 
plain and alluvial valley. The highest point is 2,800 feet above sea 
level ; the lowest, 55 feet ; and the mean, 650 feet. 

Although years of experience have proven the hill and mountain 
area to be excellently adapted to building up prosperous communities 
with fruit, truck, and live stock as their principal activities, prelimi- 
nary investigations were confined to the alluvial and coastal plain 
land in view of lower development expense per farm unit. 

Questionnaires were filled out by 86 owners having lands in 
36 counties and covering 3,600,000 acres. Of this approximately 
2,000,000 acres were inspected by five field agents, two of whom were 
land and colonization experts loaned by the Missouri Pacific Rail- 
road, one an agronomist and one an agriculturist, who have been until 
recently with the Arkansas Agricultural College, and one a civil en- 
gineer, who has had considerable experience throughout the alluvial 
part of the State. 

To check the dependability of prices named in the questionnaires,, 
legally binding options were secured on a large scale by and in the 
name of local committees in Arkansas and five other States. The 
area in Arkansas thus covered was 625,000 acres. The result of such 
work in this and in the other five States indicates that when it is 
possible to deal on a definite basis with owners land can be secured 
at prices generally lower than those set forth in the questionnaires. 
The Arkansas committee conscientiously endeavored to secure the 
listing of lands at rock-bottom prices. Lack of definite information, 
however, regarding terms of payment, interest rates, and ultimate 
provisions of the then pending income tax as to excess-profit and 
other taxes, and the impracticability in the limited time of seeing 
personally all those in authority, hampered the committee in its work. 
In several cases only nominal prices were secured. In many cases 
owners in conversation suggested lower prices than those contained 
in the options given. 

There are three tracts in the alluvial area and six in the coastal 
plain area which are considered most adaptable of the lands thus far 
offered under option. These were given a second inspection by a 
committee consisting of Mr. D. C. Welty, commissioner of agriculture 
of the Missouri Pacific Railroad ; Gen. Lloyd England, cashier of the 
England National Bank of Little Rock and chairman of the Arkan- 

Acres. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 4? 

sas State Council of Defense ; and Mr. C. W. Watson, assistant direc- 
tor of agricultural extension of the Arkansas Agricultural College. 

The Arkansas soldier settlement committee has been ready since 
March 1, 1919, to suggest nine definite project opportunities and sub- 
mit essential data regarding them, together with information re- 
garding the prevailing land prices which would insure the most ad- 
vantageous buying. At the same time, when authority and funds 
are provided for the soldier settlement plan, no doubt at least half 
as much more land will claim attention, or a total of 5,000,000 acres. 

Although nine Arkansas tracts have been selected as adaptable, 
the essential facts will be given relative to only two typical opportu- 
nities — the Sheridan project, which is located near the center of the 
State close to Little Rock and Pine Bluff, and is typical of tracts in 
the coastal plain area; and the southeastern Arkansas project, which 
is typical of the greater portion of the alluvial section of the State. 

The Sheridan project. — This project is located about 25 miles 
south of Little Rock, the capital of the State, and comprises almost 
the whole of Grant County, with the exception of a narrow strip 
along the western boundary, and small areas in the southeastern part 
of Saline, the southwestern part of Jefferson, the northwestern part 
of Cleveland, and the northwestern part of Dallas Counties. Sheri- 
dan, the county seat of Grant County, is located almost in the center, 
has a population of 1,000, and is on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. 
The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad skirts the western edge 
of the project. 

The land surface is undulating to gently rolling, with an elevation 
of from 150 to 300 feet above sea level. The drainage of much of the 
forested uplands is deficient, owing to the level topography; how- 
ever, in other than very limited areas only surface drainage is nec- 
essary. In fact, when timber and underbrush are cleared off and 
fields and roads opened, the greater part of the drainage problem is 
solved. Many of the streams of this section are intermittent. 

Although the forests of pine and oak with which the uplands were 
originally covered have been removed, there still remain extensive 
areas of merchantable timber. Eighty per cent of the land is cut 
over, and since very little of the cut-over lands have been cleared 
for farming, a very small per cent is in cultivation. Lumbering is 
still an important industry. 

In 1916 the United States Bureau of Soils made a survey of Jef- 
ferson County, which touches the project on the eastern edge. Ac- 
cording to this and to investigations of the area of the project not 
included in the survey, the soil of the uplands is mainly Caddo 
silt loam and sandy clay loam, ranging in depth from 2 to 10 feet. 
The subsoil for a depth of from 4 to 8 feet is grayish to red clay,, 
which deep-rooting plants penetrate easily. The uplands have 
two general types of soil, both of very fine texture. On the higher 
points the type is similar to the Villas fine sandy loam, while on the 
slopes the soil has the character of Norfolk fine sandy loan, all 
underlain with a compact clay subsurface soil and with a semi- 
porous clay base beneath the subsurface. On limited areas of hard- 
wood lands scattered throughout the project the soil ranges in 
depth from 3 to 6 inches of heavy loamy clay with a considerable 
amount of decomposed vegetable matter. The color is a dark 



48 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

brown, shading into brownish black, underlain with a semiporous 
clay of brownish coloring. These lands are rated as the best types 
of clay-loam soils for all grain and cane crops. 

The rock underlying the whole of this region outcrops in isolated 
districts only. The entire area is covered with grass. Altogether 
it is essentially an agricultural country, well adapted to diversi- 
fied crops, the principal of which are corn, cotton, truck, and fruit 
crops. 

The mean temperature during the summer months is 81°, with a 
maximum of 108°. The winters are comparatively short and mild, 
with a mean temperature of 44.3° and a minimum of 5°. The 
ground freezes to a depth of more than a few inches very seldom, 
and the snow rarely exceeds a depth of 1 or 2 inches and soon 
melts. The mean annual precipitation is reported as 51.15 inches 
and is heaviest in the winter, when it is sometimes excessive. 
Droughts are rare. 

The average date of the last killing frost in the spring is March 
.26, and the first in the fall, November 2, giving a normal growing 
season of 221 days. 

Wells are plentiful and the water abundant and of a high grade. 
The first strata of water is found at a depth of from 15 to 30 feet. 

The land in this project is owned in quite large blocks, seven in- 
terests controlling 220,000 acres in the area. Three interests alone 
control over 145.000 acres. 

As stated in the foregoing, it was difficult for the Arkansas com- 
mittee to get definite and minimum prices on land when terms of 
purchase were so indefinite, but it was ascertained, however, that 
the cost will be less than $10 per acre. 

The southeastern Arkansas project.— -This project is located in 
Chicot County, 10 miles south of Dermott, a town of 3.000 people, 
and 4 miles west of Lake Village, the county seat of Chicot County, 
with a population of 2,000. Both are located on the main line of the 
Missouri Pacific Railroad, which runs just to the west of the project. 
A branch line runs just east of the project and another runs east 
and west across the area. The main Arkansas-Louisiana highway 
will be built through or closely adj acent to the tract. 

The land surface js quite flat with an average elevation of about 
150 feet above sea level. A main ditch and several others have been 
dug already to drain the greater part of the project. 

Practically all of the land is cut over and very little has been 
cleared for farming, so a small per cent is in cultivation. 

In 1913 the United States Bureau of Soils made a survey of 
Ashley County, which comes within a mile of the western edge of 
the project. The soil is alluvial in origin and of the Portland se- 
ries — that is, Portland fine sandy loam and Portland clay. Cotton 
and corn are the principal crops. Alfalfa is being grown very suc- 
cessfully and in fact all diversified crops thrive on the soil tvpes 
here. The original forest growth was sweet gum, white pine, willow, 
red and post oak, black and shellbark hickory, and holly. There is 
no outcropping of rock and the entire area is covered with grass. 
This is essentially a rich agricultural region. 

The mean summer temperature is 92° with a miximum of 110°. 
The winters are comparative short and mild with a mean tempera- 



'development of unused lands. 49 

ture of 58° and a minimum of 9°. Heavy snow is practically un- 
known. The mean annual precipitation is 53.83 inches and is heaviest 
in the winter and spring months. The summers are fairly dry. The 
average date of the last killing frost in the spring and the earliest 
in the fall are March 27 and October 29, respectively, giving a nor- 
mal growing season of 216 days. Wells are plentiful and abundant 
water of excellent grade is found at a depth of from 8 to 25 feet. 

The major portion of this project is held by one owner who has 
32,000 acres. The remainder of the project is in tracts of 2,500 to 
"j 0,000 acres. It is known that this land can be purchased for less 
than $20 per acre. 

The reclamation work would consist of drainage, road building, 
addition to the coastal plain soils of lime, phosphate, potash, and ni- 
trogen, and especially clearing. Completed farms in the project 
would cost not to exceed $125 per acre, or not more than a total of 
$10,000,000 for a 80,000-acre tract, which is about the size of the 
colony recommended. 

Arkansas State Council of Defense, 

Little Rock, May 12, 1919. 
Mr. H. T. Coey, 

Consulting Engineer, 

In charge of Southern States for Soldier Settlement, 

Washington, D. C. 
Sir: I have read with care the report which is to be submitted to Con- 
gress by you and have no criticism of it, except that it must seem to one who 
knows Arkansas to be ultra-conservative in its reference to Arkansas lands. 
Vast areas in Arkansas have been built to wonderful richness by the silt 
deposited through the ages by our rivers. Much of this land is now in timber 
or has been cut over. I believe there is no richer land in this country, and 
little that will average so high. This land, which could have been bought 
for a few dollars per acre 25 years ago, now sells in many cases for more than 
$200 per acre. It is such land as this that will be offered to the Government 
in the alluvial project referred to in your report. 

The Arkansas committee, of which I am chairman, has given several months 
of work to the farms for soldiers movement and as a result of this work 
Arkansas will offer the Government at a low price valuable lands in the 
coastal plains area as well as in the alluvial area. 

The Arkansas committee is composed of men who know Arkansas, and who 
know business, and the committee is impressed with the great value to the 
State and to the country of this movement, and with the entire practicability 
of the movement. 
Yours, truly, 

Fred Heiskell, 
Chairman, Arkansas Farms for Soldiers' Committee. 



Bureau of Mines, Manufactures, and Agriculture, - 

Little Rock, Ark., May 7, 1919. 
Mr. Fred Heiskell, 

Chairman Arkansas Soldier Settlement Committee, 

Little Rock, Ark. 
Dear Sir: I have carefully examined the report of the soldier settlement 
committee and wish to express my approval of same. Your committee stated 
the facts and avoided extravagant expressions. 
Yours, truly, 

Jim G. Ferguson, Commissioner. 
141901— H. Doc. 262, 66-1 4 



50 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSl D LANDS. 

College of Agriculture, 
Agricultura , Experiment Station, 

Fayetteville, Ark., May 6, 1919. 
Mr. Fred Heiskell, 

Chairman Farms for Soldiers' Committee, 

Arkansas State Council of Defense, Little Rock, Ark. 
Dear Mr. Heiskell: I have read with considerable interest Mr. Cory's re- 
port on Arkansas's soldier colony opportunities; in fact we have cooperated 
with Mr. Welty in compiling some of the soils data. 

I gladly affirm what has been said regarding the soil in general and its 
adaptability when developed and managed, and can assure you that the state- 
ments made can be considered conservative, especially if my understanding is 
correct that upon the cheaper coastal plain land, money and effort will be 
expended to supply organic matter to the soil. 
Assuring you of my interest and desire to cooperate, I am, 
Very truly, yours, 

Martin Nelson, 
Dean and Director. 



DELAWARE. 

The committee representing the Commonwealth of Delaware in 
the soldier-settlement program is the reconstruction commission of 
the Stae of Delaware, and consisting of Mrs. Charles R. Miller, 
Wilmington; Mrs. John B. Hutton, Dover; Mrs. Ella Emory, Sea- 
ford; W. G. Taylor, Wilmington; Frank R. Poole, McDonough; 
Arley B. McGee, Dover ; and George H. Hall, Milf ord. 

The investigations in this State were carried on prior to the 
naming of the committee. 

The total area figures for Delaware are : 

Acres. 

Land 1, 257, 000 

In crops 576,000 

Unimproved in farms 500, 000 

Merchantable timber : . ! 55,000 

Cut-over lands 100, 000 

Swamp lands 50, 000 

Wet grazing lands 50, 000 

Overflow lands ! 27, 000 

Total number of farms, 11,000. 

That is to say, nearly half of the land area was in crop during the 
1918 season and only one-tenth unused. 

In a general way, the entire State is level to gently rolling, the 
maximum elevation being only 440 feet and the mean only 60 feet 
above sea level. 

All except the northern tip of the State is essentially an agricul- 
tural region — first planted to tobacco until 1850, then corn and oats, 
and latterly wheat, fruit, and dairying. All of this region is coastal 
plain, and the southern two-thirds of the State is under the 70-foot 
elevation. The easterly part drains into Delaware Bay and the 
western part into Chesapeake Bay through the Eastern Shore coun- 
ties of Maryland. The streams are broad, tortuous, and sluggish, 
with narrow strips of low, wet ground along them, the slightly 
higher lands being flat plateaus, the natural drainage of which has 
been much improved by natural works. 

The largest compact undeveloped area seems to be the so-called 
Cypress Swamp in the south end of the State, which would make 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 51 

an excellent project, especially if enlarged by contiguous lands in 
Maryland. 

The cypress project. — The Cypress project is located in Sussex 
County about 12 miles south of Georgetown, the county seat, with 
a population of over 2,000. The Delaware, Maryland & Virginia 
Railroad, a part of the Pennsylvania system, runs along the east- 
ern edge and the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Railroad, also 
a part of the Pennsylvania system, passes about 15 miles west of 
the area. The Dupont Concrete Highway passes close to the north- 
eastern edge. 

The project is a flat, poorly drained tract of about 6,000 acres, wrth 
an elevation of between 35 and 40 feet above sea level. The United 
States Bureau of Soils is now making a soil survey of Sussex County, 
but the results have not yet been published. In 1903 such a survey 
was made of the Dover area. It is evident, however, that the Norfolk 
and Portsmouth loams are the preponderating soil types, well suited 
to a varied agriculture in which corn and wheat crops predominate. 

The climate is even and mild. The slight difference between the 
day and night temperatures, due to the broad reaches of water on 
both sides of the peninsula, has been a dominant factor in Delaware's 
well-known success in fruit and especially peach culture. The mean 
temperature during the summer months is 71. 9° with a maxi- 
mum of 104°. The winter months are usually mild, having a mean 
temperature of 35° and a minimum of 10° below zero. The average 
date of the first killing frost in the fall is October 20 and the last 
in the spring is April IT, giving an average growing season of 186 
days. The annual precipitation is reported as about 44 inches and 
is generally well distributed. Droughts are very rare. 

Excellent water is found at a depth of from 15 to 30 feet. 

There are 6,000 acres in the project and the price asked per acre 
is $25. 

The work of reclamation would consist largely of drainage, clear- 
ing, addition to the soil of lime, phosphate, and nitrate of soda, 
and road-building. When fully developed, going-concern farms 
should not cost in excess of $125 per acre — a total of about $750,000. 
. Delaware was the first State to accept the Articles of Confedera- 
tion of the United States. Since its first settlement, along about 1674, 
farming has been the chief occupation of the inhabitants of this 
region, so that its agriculture is quite highly developed and the lands 
under cultivation are close to markets. There can be no question 
about the soil and marketing facilities being eminently adapted to 
successful agriculture. 

GEORGIA. 

The investigations in Georgia have been made in cooperation with 
the committee appointed by Gov. Hugh M. Dorsey, consisting of 
Alex K. Sessoms, chairman, Cogdell; T. E. Phillips, Tifton; W. B. 
Eoddenbery, Cairo; S. C. Townsend, St. Marys; J. J. Brown, At- 
lanta ; F. H. Abbott, Waycross ; Neal L. Gillis, Covena ; C. S. Bar- 
rett, Union City; J. Phil Campbell, Athens; J. E. Bodenhamer, De- 
catur ; Harvie Jordan, Monticello ; W. A. Johnson, Savannah ; J. B. 
Way, Thomasville; George B. Davis, Dublin; W. T. Staten, Val- 
dosta: W. E. French, Valdosta; W. A. Charters, Gainesville; S. B. 



52 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

Yow, Lavonia; J. B. Mills, Atlanta; A. J. Fleming, Atlanta; H. M. 
Stanley, Atlanta ; Claude Bond, Toccoa ; Josiah Blasingame, Jersey ; 
and Lieut. J. A. Dew, Camp Gordon. 

Thanks are also particularly due the Georgia Landowners' Asso- 
ciation and its secretary, Mr. F. H. Abbott, for carrying out an ex- 
tensive questionnaire program as well as helpful assistance in other 
ways, and to a good many local committees and chambers of com- 
merce for an unexpected amount of thoughtful interest. 

The total area figures for the State are: 

Acres. 

Land 37, 584, 000 

In crop 12, 624, 000 

Unimproved in farms 15, 000, 000 

Merchantable timber 5, 000, 000 

Cut-over land T 21, 000, 000 

Swamp land 1, 000, 000 

Overflow land 1, 000, 000 

Periodically swampy land 700, 000 

Total number of farms, 330,000. 

That is to say, about one-third of the land was in crop last year, 
nearly two-thirds in cut over, and relatively little in swamp — and 
500,000 acres of that area in the famous Okefenokee Swamp in the 
southeastern corner of the State. Incidentally, this interesting and 
unique formation may never be drained — many Georgians of vision 
are urging that the best use of the basin would be as a reservoir to 
feed the high level of a Florida-Georgia ship canal from the Gulf of 
Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. 

Approximately speaking, the northern fifth of the country is moun- 
tainous or hill country from 1,000 to a maximum of 4,768 feet above 
sea level ; the next third is Piedmont Plateau, from 500 to 1,000 feet 
elevation; and the remainder — about half — is coastal plain. 

Undoubtedly in the Piedmont Plateau section can be found many 
attractive project opportunities, but no investigations were made in 
that part of the State, attention being concentrated upon the lower- 
lying lands of the coastal plain, where agricultural development is 
least advanced. There several areas admirably adapted for soldier- 
settlement colonies were examined and still others suggested. 

The original forests of the lower-lying parts of the State con- 
sisted mainly of long-leaf pine, which has largely been removed. 
The remaining virgin timber is generally boxed for turpentine. The 
drainage channel " swamps " have a heavy growth of bay, gums, oaks, 
cypress, and black and slash pine, little of which has been cut over. 
It is in this region that most of the 21,000,000 acres of cut-over land 
is located and a small part of the cropped area. Large landholdings 
are very common. It is thus evident that there must be a wealth of 
project opportunities, even though only the smaller portions of the 
area may have soils particularly adapted to diversified agriculture. 

The Swwanee project. — The Suwanee project is quite typical of the 
others examined — its selection for description must not be taken as 
inferring the possession of any especial advantages over the several 
other projects examined. It is located in the southeastern part of 
Georgia and comprises the eastern half of Clinch County, the west 
central portion of Ware County, and the southeastern tip of Coffee 
County. It lies wholly between two branches of the Atlantic Coast 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 53 

Line Kailroad, and has the Allalaha River for its extreme western 
boundary. Waycross, the county seat of Ware County, a city of 
about 20,000 people, is about 15 miles east of the eastern boundary. 

The lay of the land is from extreme flat to gently rolling, with an 
elevation of from 100 to 150 feet above sea level approximately. The 
usual piney- woods sandy soils are present in the most part with clay 
subsoil. In 1906 the United States Bureau of Soils made a survey 
of the Waycross area. According to this, the Norfolk and Ports- 
mouth soils are the predominating types of this area. Pine is the 
native timber. The principal crops are corn, cotton, sugar cane, 
sweet potatoes, and vegetables. 

The climate is practically that of northern Florida, with winters 
mild and open, and long, hot summers. The mean summer tempera- 
ture is 81° with a maximum of 105°, and the mean winter tempera- 
ture is 51.3° with a minimum of 5°. Snow sometimes falls, but does 
not remain long on the ground. The average minimum winter tem- 
perature is 14°, the extreme of 5° having occured only once, 25 years 
ago. The maximum summer temperature rarely exceeds 100°, the 
heat, which otherwise would be excessive, being tempered by breezes 
from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The average 
annual precipitation is 46.7 inches, and is exceptionally well dis- 
tributed, being particularly adapted to promote the development of 
growing crops. 

Ground water ordinarily stands 8 to 12 feet from the surface, 
but following severe rains when the soil is saturated, this level rises 
almost to the surface unless drainage is provided. Artesian water 
is available throughout this section at depths varying from 700 and 
500 feet in the immediate area discussed to flowing wells found in 
the southeastern part of the State. 

This land is owned in large tracts, two interests alone controlling 
over 300,000 acres. The average price per acre is quoted as $8. 

The reclamation work would consist of extensive drainage, clear- 
ing, addition to the soil of lime, phosphate, nitrate of soda and 
humus, mospuito prevention, and road building. A 100,000-acre 
colony, completed, would cost not more than $10,000,000, or $100 
per acre. 

Georgia Landowners' Association (Inc.), 

Waycross, Ga., May 9, 1919. 
Mr. H. T. Cory, 

Consulting Engineer, United States Reclamation Service, 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir : You have furnished the members of the land settlement committee 
of the Georgia Council of Defense, appointed by Gov. Dorsey at the request of 
Secretary Lane, copies of the first draft of your proposed report on Georgia 
to Congress, with respect to the availability of certain of its lands for soldier 
settlement, and asked us to criticize the same and make a brief report supple- 
mentary thereto. 

Your statement concerning the physical character and agricultural paten- 
tialities of the lands of Georgia's coastal plain section is most conservative — ir 
errs on the score of conservatism if at all — and your recommendation for 
$10,000,000 for land settlement in the State is also most conservative. This 
can be shown quickly by simple mathematical deduction. An average of 50 
acres to the farm on your estimate of $100 per acre for a prepared farm would 
call for only 2,000 farms. Several times this number of farms would be re 
quired by Georgia's returned soldiers alone, provided Dr. Mead's plan for 
modern, improved or ready-made farms in community settlements is followed, 
making farm life really attractive to the wives of these young men, as well as 



54 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

providing a real business opportunity to the men themselves in an attractive 
social environment made possible by grouping 100 or more families together 
around a community center. 

Sour recommendation might be criticized, therefore, on the ground that the 
$10,000,000 appropriation suggested by you for Georgia is entirely too small to 
provide for the Georgia hoys alone deserving farms whose service for the 
Nation demands that they have consideration at least equal to that accorded 
by Canada and England to their soldier sons. 

We desire to tell you, also, that we have canvassed the situation with suf- 
ficient thoroughness in the State to assure you that the United States Reclama- 
tion Service and Congress can count on Georgia meeting them half-way and 
filling all requirements, either through the action of the general assembly or 
the action of private landowners. 

In further support of your recommendation of $10,000,000 for Georgia you 
might have added that in every coastal plain cqgmty where lands have been 
offered, adequate railroad facilities are already at hand to carry farm products 
to present markets ; that land clearing here is both quick and cheap ; that 
drainage on by far the greater percentage of the land requiring drainage is 
comparatively quick, easy, and cheap ; that while schools are not yet what they 
should be they are rapidly improving and there is an active public sentiment 
that assures at an early date a State-wide local tax law and a State-highway 
law; that the State has enacted a stringent tick eradication law which opens 
the way to profitable cattle industry ; that the State already ranks fourth 
among the States in hog production ; that five local packing plants distributed 
through the State provide ample live-stock markets; and that the adaptability 
of the soil to the raising of peanuts, sweet potatoes, velvet beans, and corn, 
and the long growing seasons, the cheapness of buildings for the protection of 
stock against bad weather combine to make the country particularly adaptable 
to live-stock farming, which is coming rapidly to the front. 

Abundant opportunity for recreation and pleasure afforded through large 
and small game hunting, fishing, and ocean bathing at the near-by coast, makes 
this section especially attractive to the highest class of rural citizenship. 

More could be said to fortify your statement that you examined " several 
areas admirable for soldier-settlement colonies," and to prove that your report 
and recommenadtion are sound and conservative. 

For further and more definite knowledge as to the agricultural potentialities 
of coastal plain Georgia, we respectfully commend to you the motion pictures 
taken recently by Mr. J. C. Carter, official photographer of your service. 
Yours, very truly, 

Alex K. Sessoms, 
Chairman Land Settlement Committee of 

Georgia Council of Defense. 



State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, 

University of Georgia, 
Athens, Ga., May 1, 1919. 
Mr. F. H. Abbott, 

Secretary Georgia Landowners' Association, 

Waycross, Ga. 
My Dear Sir: I have read the draft of the report submitted by Mr. H. T. 
Cory, consulting engineer of the United States Reclamation Service, to the 
Georgia Land Settlement Committee for criticism. I can see no suggestion of 
any change which might with propriety be made therein except that I believe 
he should include potash in the list of essential plant foods which could be 
used in certain of the soil types he describes, especially with truck crops, to 
advantage. I speak, of course, of the use of potash when it may be made avail- 
able in considerable quantities and at a cost approximating that prevailing in 
prewar times. 

I have read the revised or amended copy as prepared by you and your asso- 
ciates. I fully subscribe to the changes you have made therein. I think it is 
essential that these changes be indicated in some such manner as you have 
suggested or an injustice would be done the section of the State concerned. I 
presume Mr. Cory is a very reasonable and liberal man and will be glad to con- 
sent to these amendments in his report. 
With best wishes, I am, 
Very respectfully, 

Andrew M. Soule, President. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 55 

FLORIDA. 

The investigations in Florida were carried out in cooperation with 
the Florida tick eradication committee, Dr. W. F. Blackman, mana- 
ger, and the official State committee appointed by Gov. Catts com- 
posed of W. H. Coachman, chairman, Jacksonville; R. W. Stoors, 
Jacksonville ; and Jules M. Burguieres, West Palm Beach. 

The total area figures for the State are: 

Acres. 

Land 35, 100, 000 

In crop 1, 500, 000 

Unimproved in farms 3, 500, 000 

Merchantable timber 10, 000, 000 

Cut-over land 12,500, 000 

Swamp land 18, 000, 000 

Overflow land 1, 000, 000 

Periodical swamp land 800, 000 

Total number of farms, 70,000. 

Thus, -Florida had last season but 4| per cent of its land in crop 
and less than three times the cropped area in tiny Delaware. 

The entire State is coastal plain, low, and flat, though rolling in 
many portions of the interior. The highest point is but 327 feet 
above sea level, and the average but 100 feet. 

The southern end is largely the Everglades, which has a maximum 
elevation of 24 feet. Lake Okeechobee, with a high-water surface of 
500,000 acres, has a range of between 13 and 22 feet above mean tide, 
and the control of this body of water is practically synonymous with 
reclaiming nearly 5,000,000 acres. The State of Florida owns here 
1,200,000 acres. The works required, though involving several mil- 
lion dollars in cost, are not complex from an engineering point of 
view, but navigation as well as drainage is involved. Much essen- 
tial work is well under way and much has been completed. 

Obviously, then, the Everglades at once attract attention. The 
numerous holdings of the State and a very few interests make the 
blocking out of even half -million-acre projects relatively easy. 

But Florida with its enormous extent of undeveloped land offers 
many other attractive project opportunities — after eliminating vast 
areas which are ill-adapted to ordinary types of agriculture and 
rightly should be kept in timber. A number of citrus fruit colonies 
like those in southern California, cattle-ranch colonies, truck garden- 
ing — including de-hydration — colonies, dairying colonies, and di- 
versified farming colonies are all easily possible. 

Because of such a wealth of project opportunities of many types 
from which to choose, the need for considering the State's ideas in 
making a final selection of a project or projects is in Florida pecu- 
liarly great. Fortunately the Florida Legislature in special session 
enacted legislation in the premises, and the Commonwealth has duly 
authorized the committee hereinbefore mentioned to represent it in 
the matter. 

Since to many people the soldier-settlement opportunities in 
Florida are synonymous with the Everglades and citrus fruit lands, 
three of the many project opportunities in this State will be de- 
scribed — one in the Everglades, one diversified farming, and one 
dairying. In addition to these, it must not be forgotten that the 



56 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

southern part of the Brewton project described under the heading 
"Alabama," lies in Florida. 

The Everglades project. — The Everglades project is limited in size 
only hy the money availably for it. The State of Florida would 
gladly "block up" its lands with other owners and join with the 
United States in developing nearly, if not indeed all, its 1,200,000 
acres in the region. A colony under 300,000 acres in size could be 
located in many parts of the " Glades." Perhaps as advantageous 
a selection as any would be between West Palm Beach and Lake 
Okeechobee as shown on the map. Palm Beach and West Palm 
Beach, practically one city, are world famous winter resorts with a 
summer population of about 2,000 and are on the main line of the 
Florida East Coast Eailway from Key West to Jacksonville. A 
branch of the same railroad runs from the north to Okeechobee. 
These, with an asphalt surface highway built west from Palm Beach, 
and the navigable canals constitute the transportation facilities. 

The Everglades project would consist wholly of an almost per- 
fectly level prairie area normally covered by a very thin sheet of 
water and " saw grass." The United States Bureau of Soils has 
made no soil surveys in the Everglades except that of the Fort Lau- 
derdale area in 1915, but numerous others have. While considerable 
difference of opinion exists as to the permanent fertility of the " saw 
grass" land, there can be no doubt of the initial fertility which is 
amply demonstrated in many places. The enthusiastic faith in such 
eoil of many people is being backed up by large expenditures on 
capital account throughout the region. A good many of the heaviest 
investors expect the Everglades will in a few years practically take 
care of the Nation's present consumption of sugar and make it self- 
sustaining in subtropical products. On the other hand, not a few 
" view with alarm " agricultural development endeavors and expect 
future failure. The State officials of Florida stand firmly in the first 
class. 

The climate is subtropical yet peculiarly equable. The mean tem- 
perature during the summer months is 81° or 82° with a maximum of 
96°. The winter months have a temperature averaging about 67° 
with a minimum of 25°. It has been demonstrated that the more 
an area is drained the lower its temperature will be. The annual 
rainfall is well distributed and abundant, about 61 inches, being 
heaviest during the summer months and lightest after the 1st of 
October. The average date of the first killing frost is December 29 
and the last one of the season February 7, which gives a growing 
season of about 315 days. The whole area, being low and flat, is 
continually swept by breezes from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf 
and is close enough to the beach for surf bathing to be an added 
attraction. An abundant water supply can be had from (shallow) 
artesian wells, which, though having a sulphurous taste, is good in 
all other respects. 

The reclamation work would consist in drainage, clearh.^ away 
saw grass and preparing the seed bed, road building, and mosquito 
prevention. 

Going-concern farms would certainly cost not to exceed $100 per 
acre, hence a 100,000-acre colony would cost not in excess of $10,000,- 
000, and colonies of different sizes in like proportion. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 57 

The Aripeka project. — As a sample of a diversified farm colony 
the Aripeka project will be taken. This project is located about 30 
miles north of Tampa and comprises the southwest portion of 
Hernando and northwest portion of Pasco Counties, fronting 15 
miles on the Gulf of Mexico and extending eastward an extreme of 

20 miles. The county seat of Hernando County — Brooksville, a little 
city of about 1,000 inhabitants — is just outside the northeast corner. 
The Tampa Northern Railroad, from Tampa to Brooksville, runs 
through the heart of it, and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad skirts 
the tract on the south and east. The Dixie Highway, an improved 
road from Tampa, traverses the coast to Aripeka, where it begins to 
swing inland to Brooksville. 

The lay of this land is quite variable, shifting from level to rolling. 
The northwestern portion rises high and dry a hundred feet above 
sea level, needing no drainage at all, while the southeast is flat woods 
with ground water close to the surface or above it. 

The intermediate country is beautifully smooth, piney-woods plains, 
with just enough slope for good drainage and convenient mechanical 
tillage. Along the coast is a strip of cabbage palmetto land slightly 
above tidewater, while in the southwest the cypress ponds break up 
the landscape and present material difficulty from an agricultural 
standpoint. Around Brooksville there is a section of distinctly hilly 
country, some of the hills rising 200 to 300 feet in height. 

The soil, like the topography, is variable, but practically all of it 
would make good farms, being the gray-brown or lighter sandy 
loam in the uplands, with somewhat heavier to mucky soils in the 
prairies and hammocks. The flat-woods soil runs from gray to white 
sand and is less fertile. Clay subsoil is general, yellow, or brown 
sandy subsoil to a considerable depth in places, with marl or rock 
through the coast areas. In 1914 the United States Bureau of Soils 
made a soil survey of Hernando County. 

In general, the yellow timber has been cut off and second growth 
has been and still is being turpentined to a considerable extent. The 
hammocks and swamps show a strong growth of hardwoods and 
cypress, denoting good soil. Clearing would be of average cost for 
cut-over country. 

Immediately around Brooksville and northeastward of the project 
generally is an established farming country of many years' develop- 
ment. Staple crops, such as oats, corn, cotton, potatoes, sugar-cane, 
and other products, yield well, added to which every farmer has his 
oranges. A recent specialty on high, sandy, pine-ridge land is the 
Natal grass, which cuts two or more crops per season and makes a 
hay that sells for timothy price. 

This region has a subtropic though pleasant climate, with a mean 
temperature during the summer months of 81° and a maximum of 
102°. The mean temperature for the winter months is 60° and the 
minimum temperature 16°. The winters are mild, with only an 
occasional cold spell of short duration. The annual precipitation is 
about 56 inches and is heaviest during the summer months. December 

21 is the average date of the first killing frost and February 13 the 
last, leaving a growing season of 311 days. 

Good well water is to be had at varying depths throughout the 
section, and while the country rock is a sort of limestone, the water 



58 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

is usually soft and more agreeable to the taste than the artesian 
water in some parts of the State. 

The land is owned in relatively large tracts, there being seven 
principal owners in the 150,000 acres now under discussion. This 
land has been offered at an average price of $7.50 per acre. 

^he reclamation work would consist of drainage, clearing, addi- 
tion to the soil of phosphate, nitrates, and lime, and road building. 
One of the very important advantages of this section is the good 
road material found in widespread lime-rock deposits. The land 
when reclaimed should cost not to exceed $100 per acre, hence not 
more than $10,000,000 for a colony of 100,000 acres. 

The Duval project. — The Duval project, peculiarly adapted for 
dairying, is about 20 miles southwest of Jacksonville, and comprises 
the southwest portion of Duval County. Being just a little south of 
Baldwin, a junction station of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, with 
a main line of railroad along the north edge, another through the 
west portion, and tide water only 7 miles from the southeast corner, 
the tract's transportation facilities are very good. 

This project, situated on the watershed between St. Marys and 
St. Johns Rivers, is flat with a summit elevation of about 90 feet 
above sea level. The soil consists of fine sand and sandy loam, with 
a clay subsoil as a rule. The average sandy loam of the tract 
seems to be of good quality for the usual southern crops. Though 
the timber has long since been cut off, there still remains a sparse 
growth of small pine of the flat lands. The usual native grasses 
appear in average abundance. While this region makes a specialty 
of hog raising, oats, corn, cotton, and other staple southern crops 
can be raised. The United States Bureau of Soils in 1910 made a 
soil survey covering the project. 

The climate here is practically subtropical, with a range in tem- 
perature of 81° and mean winter temperature of about 62°. The 
average dates of the first and last killing frosts, respectively, are 
November 12 and April 6, which gives a growing season of 220 
days. The average precipitation is reported as 51J inches annually, 
or about 4o to 70 inches extremes. On the whole, the climate is 
q^iite pleasant and healthful. 

Good domestic water is obtainable from deep bored wells, but 
even ordinary wells bored at shallow depths yield satisfactory water 
for domestic purposes. 

Land is held in large tracts, three interests alone controlling 
46,000 acres. 

The price per acre is $8. 

The work of reclamation would consist of drainage, irrigation, 
clearing, addition to the soil of phosphate, lime and nitrates, and 
road building. 

Completed, the land would not cost more than $100 per acre for 
any project of 30,000 acres or larger. 

Milk and butter production is an inviting field in this locality. 
Not only is this region eminently adapted for the establishment of 
dairying, but with Jacksonville as a market the commercial ad- 
vantages would be most significant. This large and growing city 
has no adequate dairy development near by and is but poorly sup- 
plied with milk, while butter comes from far away. The ice-cream 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 59 

industry in the summer is of large proportions. The Duval project 
is one of the best opportunities for dairying in the southeastern part 
of the Nation. 



Floeida Cattle Tick Eeadication Committee, 

Jacksonville, Fla., May 13, 1919. 
Mr. H. T. Coey, 

Consulting Engineer, Reclamation Service, Washington, D. C. 
Deae Me. Coey : Your report on Florida bearing on Secretary Lane's soldier- 
settlement plan has been read by the members of the committee appointed by 
Gov. . Catts and the officers of the Florida Cattle Tick Eradication Committee, 
which cooperated with you at your request in the inspection of lands in this 
State available for such settlements. They all heartily approve of the report 
in the main. We are of the opinion that your statements are conservative — 
perhaps on the whole unduly so — and they can be abundantly substantiated. 
We venture, however, to offer two suggestions by way of amendment : 

1. The schedule of areas which you give on your first page seems to us in 
one important particular to be misleading. The word " swamp " may be vari- 
ously defined and understood, but it is certainly not true that more than half 
the land area in Florida is " swamp " in any sense in which that word is com- 
monly used, or, indeed, in any sense whatever. In a subsequent paragraph you 
will find an analysis of the land area of the State, which is furnished and 
vouched for by the State geologist and which may be regarded as approximately 
correct. 

2. In your discussion of the Everglades, Aripeka, and Duval projects you 
give the date of the first killing frost in these several regions and the length 
of the growing season, but have you not overlooked the very important fact 
that statements regarding this matter which would be fully justified as applied 
to more northern latitudes have no proper application in Florida? In the 
North the first killing frost definitely puts an end to the growing season, which 
does not begin until spring; in Florida a frost may occur in November or De- 
cember and within a week or two thereafter grasses and vegetables may, and 
often or generally do, begin growing again. That is to say, a frost here is 
only a temporary and not a permanent interruption of growth. Many of our 
famous truck crops are made and marketed during the period in which, accord- 
ing to the statements of your report, no growth occurs. It is not quite exact to 
say, as we often do, that in south Florida the growing season covers the 365 
days of the year, but this statement is nearer the truth than that the growing 
season covers 220 days in Duval County, 311 days in Hernando County, and 315 
days in Palm Beach and Dade Counties. 

According to estimates furnished by the State geologist, based on published 
soil maps, county maps showing vegetation types and various reports of the 
Geological Survey, 'Florida contains some 6,000 square miles of muck lands, 
6,500 square miles of prairie lands, 18,000 or 19,000 square miles of flatwoods, 
13,500 square miles of high pine lands) nearly 6,000 square miles of high, middle 
and low hummocks, 1,000 square miles of scrub lands, and 2,800 square miles 
of swamps. 

The muck lands are located mostly in the Everglades, but very considerable 
areas are scattered over the State. These muck soils are generally of great 
depth and extraordinary fertility. Some of them are covered always, or in 
rainy seasons, with a shoal sheet of water ; some of them are dry and arable ; 
practically all of them may be drained with* comparative ease ; and they are 
specially suited to the growing of sugar cane and the various grasses, though 
they are also well adapted to many forage and vegetable crops. When drained, 
cleared of inferior grasses and weeds and set to Bermuda, Giant Bermuda, 
Para, Carib, Joint, and other improved grasses, they are capable of carrying a 
vast number of cattle and other live stock ; I should say they could support at 
least one head of cattle to the acre the year through. 

Prairies are found in all parts of the State, but the largest areas are in 
the upper St. Johns, the Kissimmee, and the Caloosahatchee Rivers in south 
Florida. These prairies are without trees, except for the clumps of cypress, 
cabbage palmettos, and other growths which dot them here and there with 
"islands" which furnish shade for cattle and food for swine, and are bordered 
by open or saw palmetto flatwoods and dense hardwood hummocks. The soil 



60 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

varies from light sandy loam to muck, or — along the rivers — a deep, black, 
rich alluvial deposit. They are covered with nutritious native grasses and are 
now carrying summer and winter, as they have carried for immemorial times, 
large herds of cattle, many swine, and a few thriving flocks of sheep. On a con- 
siderable part of these prairie lands flowing wells can be driven, furnishing 
an abundant and inexhaustable supply of pure water, and on all of them it is 
possible by the use of windmills or gasoline engines to obtain water at slight 
expense. Some of these prairies need to be ditched for the carrying off of 
surplus water during the rainy season, and those which border the rivers are 
subject to occasional overflow. When these prairies are fenced and planted in 
improved grasses, there are no better pastures anywhere. 

The flatwoods, perhaps ten or twelve million acres, are distributed rather 
evenly throughout the State. They vary greatly in soil, subsoil, elevation, and 
conditions of moisture and overflow. Some of them are " open flatwoods," 
while some are covered with a more or less dense growth of saw palmetto. For 
the most part, they carry a rather heavy growth of wire grass, though where 
fires have been controlled carpet grass, maiden cane, various paspalums, and 
numerous other nutritious grasses are found in fair abundance. Practically 
all of these lands, if properly managed, will carry Bermuda, Joint grass, 
Napier grass, Rhodes grass, and beggar weed, and in the more southern lati- 
tudes, Para, Carib, and Guinea grass. Such forage crops as corn, the sorghums, 
Japanese cane, the millets, the numerous varieties of cowpeas, oats, rye, vetch, 
cassava, and many more do well in these lands, so that it is possible to carry 
on them any necessary quantity of hay and other feedstuffs for supplementing 
the pastures during the two months of winter when these are at their poorest. 

Perhaps nothing need be said for the purposes of this report concerning the 
high pine lands and the hardwood hummocks of the State. 

Florida is fortunate in having a climate which makes it possible to graze 
live stock practically the year around. Expensive barns and other shelters are 
unnecessary and three crops can be grown annually in succession in all culti- 
vated fields. ' Severe and protracted droughts are almost unknown. There is; 
a copious and well-distributed rainfall, and countless lakes, rivers, creeks, 
springs, and flowing wells furnish unfailing supply of water almost everywhere. 
The diseases and predatory animals which affect the live-stock industry un- 
favorably in many sections of the country are for the most part lacking here. 
The cattle-fever tick will be practically eliminated from the State within the 
next two or three years, and the way will be opened for the introduction of 
good breeding stock from the tick-free areas of the North, the development of 
pure-grade and high-bred herds, and the free and profitable marketing of our 
products. Also hogs, sheep, and goats do well in all parts of the State. 

The committee recommends that if one or more colonies for returning soldiers 
are established in Florida, they should be devoted in the main to the production 
of live stock and to the dairy industry. 

Finally we would emphasize the fact that the three projects described in 
your report are merely samples of a very large number of possible projects,, 
equally adapted to the purpose, or in some cases perhaps even better, which 
are available in this State. As to the particular area to be selected, we should; 
wish to reserve judgment. 

Florida Cattle Tick Eradication Committee. 
By W. F. Blackman, Manager. 



supplementary report of the agricultural college and experiment station.. 

University of Florida, 
College of Agriculture, 
Gainesville, May 16, 1919.. 

Mr. H. T. Cory, 

Consulting Engineer, Reclamation Service, 

Washington, D. C. 

My Dear Mr. Cory : I have before me a letter from W. F. Blackman, manager- 
of the Florida cattle-tick eradication committee, inclosing a paper giving a dis- 
cussion of vour investigations in the State of Florida with regard to the Ever- 
glades project, the Aripeka project, and the Duval project. In the main the 
dean of the agricultural college and director of the experiment station approves 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 61 

of the report, also the supplementary report of the committee. Your report is 
conservative, and if it errs it is in the direction of being too conservative. 

By way of amendment to your report allow me to make the following sugges- 
tions : 

(1) In the first paragraph below the table you place, the area in cultivation 
at 4^ per cent. I am told that the last Federal census gives the area in culti- 
vation at 15 per cent. In that same connection it would be well to call attention 
to the fact that the cultivated area in Florida yields more dollars' worth of farm 
products per acre than is obtained anywhere, else in the United States. 

(2) On a subsequent page, under Aripeka project, you mention the city of 
Brooksville as having about 1,000 inhabitants. Apparently this city had 1,385 
inhabitants in 1915. 

(3) On a later page, under the same project, in discussing the water you say 
" the country rock is a sort of limestone." I believe geologists classify this as 
Vicksburg limestone. 

(4) The above emendations can easily be made, and should be corrected, as 
the statement will be repeatedly used on the authority of " Government publi- 
cation." 

(5) The cattle-tick eradication committee has already called attention to the 
use of the term " swamp land," also regarding the average date of the earliest 
frost in the fall and the latest in the spring. This should not be taken in the 
sense in which it is used in your paper, since there are many vegetables and 
farm crops that are not affected by the earliest frost. I need only to mention 
such crops as oats, rye, barley, and a considerable number of grasses, as well 
as cabbage, cauliflower, celery, and other important vegetables. The growing 
season of many crops is not terminated by the occurrence of frost. 

The Florida projects. — The paper discusses only three projects: The Ever- 
glades project, the Aripeka project, and the Duval project. Each one of these 
three projects is excellent and has many points in its favor. The question as 
to which one of the three would be best would depend, entirely upon the de- 
sires and ambitions of those who are furthering the project. In addition to 
those named, there are doubtless a score of other projects equally as meritori- 
ous for the purposes of this work. 

The report has well said that " to many people, soldier settlement opportuni- 
ties in Florida are synonymous with the Everglades and citrus fruit land." 
This is due to the fact that the citrus fruit production and Everglade lands 
have been very largely advertised throughout the United States. This is some- 
thing different from what most of the Southern States have to advertise, and 
hence special stress has been laid upon it. It should not be forgotten, however, 
that diversified agriculture and stock raising are most important and to-day 
claim the attention of more people in the State and produce more wealth for 
the State than is produced by the citrus crop. This is no disparagement for 
the citrus crop, but a plain statement of fact. The citrus crop is undoubtedly 
the most alluring and attractive. General farming and stock raising, includ- 
ing swine raising, have come forward in Florida by leaps and bounds — es- 
pecially is this true of hog raising. In the last 10 years the hog industry in 
the State of Florida has increased by 85.7 per cent, exceeding in rate of increase 
in the last 10 years all the other Southern States. In this connection it should 
be remembered that the 15 Southeastern States now contain 33 per cent of 
the total hog population of the United States, showing a most remarkable in- 
crease in the last 10 years. Any one of the three projects mentioned can be 
profitably utilized for pork production. This is no longer an experiment, but 
an established fact, though it is not generally known outside of the State of 
Florida. Poultry raising is also coming to the front, and live stock raising has 
made most rapid strides in the last 10 years 

The production of forage crops in Florida can be carried out with, greater 
ease than almost anywhere else in the United States. We have a greater wealth 
of crops to choose from and a much longer growing season, thus reducing very 
materially the period during which it is advisable, though not absolutely neces- 
sary, to maintain the herd on harvested crops. The velvet bean, which is 
grown on millions of acres in the South, is not yet appreciated by any outside 
of our borders. The great number of tropical grasses available to us, such as 
Napier grass, Merker" grass, Japanese sugar cane, Rhodes grass, Natal grass, 
Para grass, Carib grass, and Guinea grass are as yet insufficiently appreciated. 
This is due to the fact that most people are not familiar with these crops, and 
fail to recognize the fact that Florida is subtropical and lends itself more 
readily to the production of tropical and semi tropical crops than it does crops 



62 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. _ 

from the temperate regions. By proper adjustment and succession of crops, 
it is unnecessary to carry in storage on the farm any large quantity of hay or 
other maintenance crops for stock. Bermuda grass, so much despised by the 
cotton grower, is the best basis for permanent pasture we have found on the 
general farm. Its persistence and aggressiveness make it most useful in this 
direction and its high nutritive value makes it a strong competitor of blue 
grass. 

With each succeeding year the production of vegetables is becoming more 
greatly specialized and stabilized. It is becoming more and more the practice 
by the general farmer to grow some truck crops for the early market. This 
enables him to have an income at a time of year when general farm crops are not 
being sold, and also to utilize the labor when it is not absolutely necessary to 
employ it for the general farm crops. 

It is not generally known how greatly the farm crops in Florida have in- 
creased in value during the last 10 years. The total value of the 12 leading 
farm crops sold in 1918, excluding cotton, citrus, and truck, was nearly six times 
the value of those crops in 1910. 

Everywhere in the State good, pure water of the most healthful kind can be 
found in unlimited quantities. In a large portion of the State flowing artesian 
wells may be obtained. The water given forth by these wells is usually sul- 
phurous as it comes out, but on standing or aerating the sulphurous odor is lost 
completely. It makes the best kind of water for household purposes and for 
live stock on the farm. There is practically no place in the agricultural region of 
Florida where water is difficult to obtain. 

Large regions may be obtained where no forest growth occurs and only a small 
amount of ditching is necessary to remove the surplus water and have the land 
in good condition to begin farming operations. 

The so-called prairie regions may be brought into agricultural condition by 
a small outlay of money for drainage purposes. The drainage work in the 
Everglades is so well understood that it needs only to be mentioned that much 
of the Everglades land is already being cropped, and new areas in the Ever- 
glades are being opened up every year. A large diversity of crops can be grown 
in this region, sugar- cane being among the most promising and profitable. 
Very truly, yours, 

P. H. Rolfs, 
Dean of the Agricultural College and Director of the Experiment Station. 



KENTUCKY. 

Gov. Augustus O. Stanley on March 8, 1919, appointed a com- 
mittee of five to represent the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the 
soldier-settlement matter, consisting of Dr. Frank L. McVey, chair- 
man, Lexington; Harvey Chenault, Richmond; Owsley Brown, 
Louisville; W. A. Wickless, Greenville; and W. F. Bradshaw, 
Paducah. 

Investigations in the State were made prior to the appointment 
of the committee. 

The total area figures for Kentucky are: 

Acres. 

Land 25, 715, 500 

In crop 6, 925, 000 

Unimproved in farms 8, 000, 000 

Merchantable timber 6, 300, 000 

Cut-over 3, 250, 000 

Swamp land 

Wet grazing land : 100, 000 

Overflow land 300, 000 

Periodical swamp land 45, 000 

Total number of farms, 270,000. 

While the crop acreage last year was not quite 7,000,000, the im- 
proved farm land is usually given as about exactly twice that figure. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 63 

At any rate, much of the State is highly developed agriculturally 
and the areas of cut-over and wet lands, especially the latter, are 
relatively small. 

Roughly speaking, the southeastern quarter of the State is moun- 
tain and hill land, from elevations of 900 to 4,100 feet above sea 
level, and about one-sixth along the Ohio River below Cincinnati is 
below the 500-foot contour. 

Because of the agricultural developments in various parts of the 
Commonwealth, the most obvious places to seek soldier-settlement 
opportunities are in the low-lying lands in the western end and 
the higher land in the southeastern corner. The central blue-grass 
region is far famed for its high development and high prices of 
farms. 

The project opportunities in the west are small, 20,000 acres and 
under, and are adapted to diversified agriculture. Such settlement 
would be essentially similar to the proposed colonies in most of the 
other States in the southern district except as to size. 

The projects in the southeastern corner would be quite different 
and have a counterpart in West Virginia only. That is to say, the 
soldier settlements would be of a distinctive type and feature sheep 
and yearling-cattle production. They would, in consequence, be 
the most interesting projects from a sociological point of view in 
perhaps the entire Nation. 

Diversified crop colonies. — The climate in western Kentucky is 
slightly warmer than that in the eastern section. The summer 
months have an average temperature of between 75° and 80°, while 
winter months have a mean temperature of about 35 b . The aver- 
age date of the first killing frost is between October 15 and 20, 
and the last killing frost is about April 17, leaving a growing season 
of about 190 days. The average annual precipitation is from 45 to 
50 inches and rather more evenly distributed than is that of the 
eastern section. The whole State has years of excessive rainfall 
and then again years that are decidedly droughty. 

The price of these colony lands would be about $30 an acre. 

The reclamation work would consist of drainage work, clearing, 
liming the soil, preparing seed beds, and road building. When 
completed the cost of the farms would be about the same as in other 
southern colonies of like nature. 

Stock-producing colonies. — The hill country of Kentucky, where 
of limestone formation, is a blue-grass region. Except for small 
scattered areas the land is too rough for cultivation and the develop- 
ment is very backward. Land values are especially low where min- 
eral and coal rights are reserved by the seller, and ownerships fairly 
large. The acquiring of only surface rights for colonies is not ob- 
jectionable — there is no particular reason for speculative possibili- 
ties concerning subsurface values in allotments. 

Many people would prefer " horseback agriculture,'' to any other 
kind if sociological features were satisfactory and if they could live 
in a planned community, marketing very little but live stock, yet 
laid out and designed in all details to secure sufficient social ad- 
vantages, comforts, conveniences, and attractions. 

There seem to be numerous project opportunities for this type of 
a colony in eastern and southeastern Kentucky and of widely varying 



64 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

size. The profitable outlining of any one project can hardly be done 
until the amount of money available be known. The Kentucky com- 
mittee indicates the section of the State where such project oppor- 
tunities are mostly located as shown on the map. 

The mean temperature for the summer months in the eastern part 
of the State ranges from 71 to 77° with a maximum of about 100°. 
Of the winter months, the mean temperature is between 32 and 39°, 
with rather frequent drops to below zero, 20° below having been 
registered once or twice within the last 45 years. The average date 
of the first killing frost in the fall is between October 13 and 25, 
and the last in the spring is between April 15 and 20, thus giving 
an average growing season of from 177 to 190 days. The annual 
precipitation shows a wide variation for the individual months, 
seasons, and years. The average rainfall is, however, somewhere 
between 40 and 50 inches. 

The price of the land, sometimes surface rights only, would range 
from $2 to $10 per acre. 

The reclamation work would consist largely of developing culti- 
vable acreages on each allotment, so far as practicable, for produc- 
ing feed to carry the stock over the winter months. This would mean 
clearing, some drainage work, preparation of seed beds, etc. In 
addition to this would be clearing underbrush and pasturage im- 
provement, road building, etc. 

The cost expressed upon an acreage basis of going-concern farms 
in such a project would be about two-thirds as great per acre as in 
cut-over land and drainage projects in the other Southern States. 
A much smaller proportion of the investment, however, would be in 
improved land and more in live stock. One hundred and forty 
thousand acres of such settlements would thus cost about $10,000,000. 



Lexington, Ky., May 18, 1919. 
Dr. H. T. Cory, 

Consulting Engineer Reclamation Service, 

Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C: 

Committee has gone over material which you sent me and find it approxi- 
mately correct. I presume you have copy for your committee. 

Frank L. McVey. 



University of Kentucky, 

College of Agriculture, 
Lexington, Ky., June 25, 1919. 
President F. L. McVey, 

University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky. 
My Dear President McVey: I herewith return the material and report to 
which Mr. Cory refers. 

Prof. Roberts will not return until Sunday. Therefore, I have checked the 
figures and discussed the general statement with Prof. Kinney. I present the 
following figures as taken from the census of 1910. 

Acres. 

Approximate land area 25, 715, 840 

Land in farms 22, 189, 127 

Improved land in farms 14, 354, 471 

Woodland in farms 6, 951, 626 

Total wooded area (Barton's report) 9,400,000 

Cut-over land, practically entire area. 
Total number of farms, 259,185. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 65 

The woodland acreage, 9,400,000, was obtained from Mr. Barton, forester for 
the State of Kentucky. Personally, I think this is high by some millions of 
acres, as the figure is very close to the difference between the improved land 
in farms and the approximate land area of the State. 

I am unable to obtain any authoritative information as to the acreage of 
cut-over land, merchantable timber, swamp land, etc. I presume the estimates 
given are as fair as any other estimates that may be made. It seems to me 
that it makes very little difference whether the actual acreage of overflow land 
is 300,000 or 600,000. The fact of the matter is it depends entirely upon the 
season, the rise of the river, etc. 

The area given for merchantable timber is undoubtedly too high, provided 
they use the term as we ordinarily mean it. If, on the contrary, the term is 
applied to any area from which the timber may be taken off for the purpose of 
sale, I presume it may be correct, as even in the blue grass we have trees here 
and there on farms that may be marketed. 

The original statement covering the possibilities of soldier settlements ap- 
pears to me to be a matter of opinion. I do not care to express myself until 
we have rather definite information as to what is intended and what may be re- 
quired. Prof. Kinney also considers the statement to be one of opinion and 
does not desire to make a statement with the present information. 
Very truly, yours, 

Thomas P. Coopee, 

Dean and Director. 



LOUISIANA. 

Investigations in Louisiana have been carried out in cooperation 
with the committee appointed by Gov. Euffin G. Pleasants, consisting 
of E. E. Lafaye, chairman, New Orleans; H. B. Bayliss, Lake 
Charles ; Harry P. Gamble, New Orleans ; and W. It. Dodson, Baton 
Rouge. 

The total area figures for the State are : 

Acres. 

Land 29, 062, 000 

In crop 4, 980, 000 

Unimproved in farms 5,000,000 

Merchantable timber.^ 2, 250, 000 

Cut-over lands 12, 000, 000 

Swamp lands 9, 000, 000 

Overflow lands 1, 196, 000 

Total number of farms, 123,000. 

Thus over one-third of the State is wet land, nearly a half cut-over 
land, and only one-sixth in crop last year. 

The highest point in Louisiana, in the northeastern part, is only 
400 feet above sea level; the average for the State is only 100 feet, 
and two-thirds of it lies below the 100-foot contour. 

There is thus to be seen a considerable similarity between this 
State and Florida in this, that there are vast acreages of both low- 
lying cut-over lands and wet lands. Further, the wealth of project 
opportunities is almost embarrassing. Over 5,000,000 acres were 
offered in response to questionnaires and 2,800,000 acres inspected. 
Even so, no doubt many additional offerings will be made on widely 
published notice of our being able to deal on a definite basis. 

Selection must be made of a wet-lands project or a cut-over lands 
project or two projects taken — one of each type. One of each class 
of project will be described simply as indicative of Louisiana's enor- 
mous soldier settlement opportunities. 

141901— H. Doc. 262, 66-1 5 



66 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

The Lake Charles project. — This project lies in the northern part 
of Calcasieu, the southwestern part of Beauregard, the northwestern 
corner of Jefferson, and the western part of Allen Parishes, with its 
center just 5 miles from Lake Charles, a city of 17,000 inhabitants. 
The Houston and Calcasieu Eivers and their tributaries drain the 
western and east-central parts of the tract, respectively. Four lines 
of railroad run through the property — the Kansas City Southern 
through the western part, the Lake Charles northern branch of the 
Southern Pacific through the central, the Iron Mountain through the 
eastern, and the St. Louis & San Francisco across the northern part. 
The first three have Lake Charles for their terminal point. 

In 1901 the United States Bureau of Soils made a survey of the 
Lake Charles area, and essential agricultural data concerning the 
project are therefore at hand. This area is gently rolling, with an 
elevation of from 30 to 50 feet above sea level. The soil is a fine 
sandy loam of the Susquehanna type, from 2^ to 3 feet in depth. 
This soil is excellent for raising rice, although corn, cotton, oats, 
potatoes, hay crops, and others are beginning to be very profitably 
raised. The native timber is the long-leaf pine, but the entire area 
has been cut over. 

The climate of this region is temperate, thanks to the moderating 
influence of the Gulf and the many lakes and streams. The mean 
temperature for the summer months is 80.8°, with a maximum of 
101°. The mean temperature for the winter months is 52.6°, with 
a minimum of 10°. The average dates of the first and last killing 
frosts are November 25 and February 24, respectively, giving an 
average growing season of 274 days. The average annual precipita- 
tion is recorded at about 55 inches and is heaviest during the winter 
months and in May, June, and July. Damaging storms are rare. 

Excellent water in abundant quantities for domestic purposes is 
found at a depth of from 100 to 150 feet. The depth to artesian 
flow is from 650 to 700 feet. 

The land is owned in large blocks, there being but seven interests 
represented in the tract of 90,000 acres under discussion. This land 
can be had at a cost of about $10 per acre. 

The reclamation work would consist of a comprehensive drainage 
system, some clearing, addition of lime, etc., to the soil to sweeten 
acidity, preparation of seed beds, mosquito prevention, and road 
building. The cost of completed farms would be about $100 per acre. 

The Natalbany project. — This project is located in Tangipahoa, 
Livingston, and St. Helena Parishes, about 20 miles from Hammond, 
La., a progressive town of about 5,000 inhabitants. While these lands 
are not on the main lines of any railroads, they are close to the main 
line of the Illinois Central, whose stations can easily be reached by 
short distances of good roads. The New Orleans, Natalbany & Nat- 
chez Railroad, running through the center, is the logging line of the 
project and handles freight for the Illinois Central under special 
contract. Three rivers of permanent flow drain this area: The 
Amite, the Tickfaw, and the Tangipahoa. 

The topography is from level to gently rolling, at an elevation of 
from 150 to 200 feet above sea level. In 1904 the United States Bu- 
reau of Soils made a survey of the Tangipahoa Parish and in 1912 
such a survey of the Feliciana Parish, which adjoins the St. Helena 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 67 

and Livingston Parishes, was made. The soil is chiefly a sandy loam 
underlain with a clay subsoil. Cotton, corn, sugar cane, potatoes, 
strawberries, and all kinds of garden truck are raised. The native 
timber consists of both long and short leaf pine. There are exten- 
sive live-stock operations in the vicinity. 

The summers in this region are long and hot, but are tempered by 
the gulf breeze. The average summer temperature is about 84°, and 
seldom gets above 95°. The average winter temperature is about 
53°, with a minimum seldom below 18°. The absolute extremes are 
reported by the weather bureau at Hammond as being 1 and 106°. 
Killing frosts are not expected before November 11 or after March 
2, thus giving an average growing season of 254 days. The average 
annual rainfall is about 55 inches and is well distributed. The sum- 
mer is the wettest season and the falls are dry. Abundant water of 
good quality can be found at a depth of from 30 to 40 feet, and 
artesion flow from 900 to 1,200 feet. 

The tract of 100,000 acres is owned by one company and can be 
bought for $10 per acre. 

The reclamation work Would consist of drainage, land clearing, 
mosquito prevention, road-building, and the addition to the soil of 
phosphate, nitrate of soda, and potash. 



MARYLAND. 

The committee representing the State of Maryland in the soldier 
settlement program was the agricultural subcommittee of the Mary- 
land Council of Defense until superseded May 28, 1919, by a com- 
mittee appointed by Gov. Harrington, consisting of the following : 
John F. Dennis, chairman, Baltimore; Clement S. Ucker, Baltimore; 
Phillip Lee Goldsborough, Baltimore; Dr. A. F. Woods, president 
Maryland State College of Agriculture, College Park ; Senator W. J. 
Frere, Tomkinsville ; William McKenney, and Samuel L. Burn. 

The total land data for the State are : 

Acres. 

Land 6, 362, 240 

In crop 2, 250, 000 

Unimproved in farm 1,700,000 

Merchantable timber 375, 000 

Cut-over land 1, 900, 000 

Swamp land 100, 000 

Overflow land 92, 000 

Total number of farms, 50,000. 

The improved farm area is given as half more than the land 
cropped last year, or a little more than half the total land area. A 
little less than one-third is cut-over and but 3 per cent wet land. 

Except as to the small amount of wet lands, these figures do not, 
however, tell the whole story. Generally speaking, Maryland is a 
State quite highly developed agriculturally, but nevertheless on both 
sides of Chesapeake Bay there are wide fringes of mostly " aban- 
doned " lands — lands which have been neglected and let go back 
since the Civil War. As Mr. Clement S. Ucker, of Baltimore, ex- 
presses it, they need four L's : Lime, legumes, live stock, and local 



68 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

option. In the southern bay districts only small scattered farms 
seem to have enjoyed the benefit of more than the last item. 

It is a very striking fact that lands which until 1870 had been 
for two centuries highly regarded for agricultural purposes, which 
lie almost within sight of the Nation's Capital, and which are within 
motoring distance of over a million and a quarter urban population, 
should be selling at from $10 to $20 per acre. 

In this region there are not a few " silent " churches — eloquent 
monuments to and forceful reminders of the serious retrogression 
in this country's development. Most of them are quite old, large 
brick structures indicative of highly prosperous communities. 

But improvident agriculture, dearth of man power after the war y 
and the lure of the city and of the West are the obvious causes of 
the existing condition of affairs. No less obvious are the things 
required for rehabilitation. In general the cost will be less and the 
time required but little more to " bring back " such land than to re- 
claim arid and wet areas often far from markets and large urban 
centers. 

There is very little wet land, relatively speaking, and most of the 
cut-over and inferior timber land is in fact this " abandoned " land. 
Hence by far the most attractive opportunities for soldier settle- 
ments in Maryland are to be found in fairly small projects — under 
20,000 acres — blocked up largely from nonresident holdings in the 
Chesapeake Bay counties. 

There are a few swamp-land project possibilities. Generally they 
are long and narrow in shape and would naturally best be made parts 
of " abandoned " land areas. An exception is that part of the 
Cypress project described under "Delaware" which lies in Maryland 
and the greater part of which area should be included therein. 

The Waldorf project. — As illustrative of what is meant and also 
because most of the lands in the project are now in one ownership, 
the Waldorf project will be described. It is situated in Prince 
Georges and Charles Counties and is but 25 miles from Washington. 
It is traversed by the Popes Creek branch of the Pennsylvania Rail- 
road and Waldorf Station is 6 miles beyond Brandy wine. It is also 
almost bisected by a modern State highway, so that it is only an 
hour's motor ride from Washington. 

The elevation is from 80 to 230 feet, and the country is attractively 
undulating. A little of the narrow stream bottoms would require 
drainage, but the fall available is simple. The tract is all in the 
coastal plain, and a soil survey has been made of a considerable por- 
tion by the United States Bureau of Soils. 1 Thus the crop adapta- 
tions are quite well known in spite of the fact that tobacco is the only 
great staple crop heretofore grown on this particular area. 

The climate of Prince Georges County is healthful and pleasant, 
with mild winters and a long growing season of about 180 days on 
an average. The range of temperature is quite great — from 16° 
-below zero to 105° above. The mean temperature for the summer 
months is 73.6° and for the winter months is 35.6°. Killing frosts 
rarely occur between October 15 and April 20. The coastal plain of 
Maryland has had fewer damaging storms than any locality east o± 

1 " Soil Survey of Prince Georges County, Md.," in Field Operations of the Bureau of 
Soils, 1901, United States Department of Agriculture, pp. 173-210. 



DEVELOPMENT OE UNUSED LANDS. 69 

the Mississippi River. The annual precipitation is about 41 inches 
and is quite well distributed. While the rainfall is ample for many 
crops and most types of soil, yet irrigation, though by no means 
necessary, would add materially to crop returns. 

Splendid water is found at easy depths, and wells are plentiful. 

This particular project opportunity was gathered together just 
before the last war by a corporation formed for the chief purpose 
of demonstrating the colonization adaptability of such " abandoned " 
land. Due to the World War and some other developments, nothing 
has been done with it as yet. The total cost to the company of some 
13,000 acres in a solid body was $14.35 per acre. It is understood that 
the owning company would turn the property over to the Govern- 
ment for soldier settlement purposes only at original cost plus sub- 
sequent carrying charges, say, $18 to $20 per acre. From $17 to 
$25 per acre will be the cost of project lands in Maryland generally. 

The reclamation work would consist of some drainage, a little ter- 
racing, clearing, road building, liming, and soil treatment, chiefly 
with leguminous crops. 

Going-concern farms could be developed for about $75 an acre 
exclusive of the original cost. 



Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, 

College Park, May 13, 1919. 
Maj. H. T. Cory, 

Reclamation Service, Department of the Interior, 

Washington, D. C. 
Dear Maj. Cory: Inclosed herewith please find a supplementary statement 
with reference to the agriculture of Maryland, to be used, if you see fit, in 
connection with the statement which you made concerning the agriculture of 
our State. We feel that there should be a little more detailed and compre- 
hensive statement made in order to give people an adequate idea of the possi- 
bilities of Maryland. 

I am sorry that I could not have gotten this matter to you at an earlier date. 
Very truly, yours, 

H. J. Patterson, Director. 



The Agriculture of Maryland. 

[Supplementary statement by J. H. Patterson, Director Maryland Agricultural Experi- 
ment Station.] 

The agriculture of Maryland is conducted upon many different kinds of 
soils and under a wide range of climatic conditions owing to the considerable 
variations which are found to exist between the tide water lands at sea level 
in the east and the mountain lands over 200 miles to the west with an eleva- 
tion of as much as 3,000 feet above sea level. Not only has the climate and the 
soils made a wide range of agriculture possible, but the different sections of 
the State have been settled by people with different inclinations and tendencies, 
which has resulted in the kind and degree of agricultural development being 
quite varied. 

The total area of Maryland is 12,210 square miles, 9,860 of which is land 
surface, which, up to this time, is divided into about 50,000 farms averaging 
about 125 acres each. The principal farm crops have the following areas de- 
voted to them annually : 

Staple agricultural crops: Corn, 700,000 acres; wheat, 700,000 acres; hays 
and forage crops, 400,000 acres ; barley, buckwheat, oats, and rye, 80,000 acres ; 
tobacco, 30,000 acres. 

Horticultural crops : Orchard fruits. 300,000 acres ; vegetables, 100.000 acres ; 
potatoes, 47,000 acres ; small fruits, 18,000 acres. 



70 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

For the purpose of agricultural classification, Maryland is naturally divided 
into four parts, viz : Eastern, southern, north-central, and western Maryland. 

Eastern Maryland, popularly known as the " Eastern Shore," is composed of 
nine counties lying in the peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and Chesa- 
peake Bay and are as follows: Cecil, Kent, Queen Annes, Talbot, Caroline, 
Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester. 

The Easter Shore is uniformly level, with fairly good roads, which are easily 
and economically kept in repair. The land is considerably indented with tidal 
estuaries commonly called " creeks." Along many of these creeks are marsh 
lands which have luxuriant growths of natural grasses which are well adapted 
to grazing. 

The proximity of the ocean and bay greatly modifies the temperature, so 
that this section enjoys a long growing season and very short, mild winters. In 
general, the soil and climate are exceptionally well adapted to the early produc- 
tion of vegetables and small fruits. 

Southern Maryland is made up of five counties, lying between Chesapeake 
Bay and the Potomac River, viz : Prince Georges, Anne Arundel, Charles, Cal- 
vert, and St. Marys. 

The surface of the land in southern Maryland is somewhat higher and more 
broken or rolling than the Eastern Shore. This is the principal tobacco-grow- 
ing section of the State, and the soils and climate are well adapted to this 
crop. There is also much land well adapted to the staple agricultural -crops 
and to vegetables and small fruits. Most of southern Maryland has good trans- 
portation facilities by both water and rail, and, being very near to both Balti- 
more and Washington, has good markets. Dairy farming has been found very 
profitable in the section near Washington, and what is known as the " Eastern 
Branch " trucking section produces the earliest local vegetables and small 
fruits which are found in the Washington market. 

Less than one-half of the land in this section is under cultivation. Most of 
the uncultivated area is in woodland, yet considerable cleaned land is untilled. 
There is much land in large estates which is uncultivated because the owners 
are unable to work it to advantage. 

North-central Maryland is composed of five counties, viz : Baltimore, Har- 
ford, Howard, Carroll, and Montgomery. The land in this section of the State 
is very rolling. It is generally rather a stiff clay and clay loam underlaid 
with rock and is well drained. The land is mostly cleaned and under culti- 
vation. The valleys are usually very fertile. The farms in this section are 
generally small, varying from 50 to 150 acres, and in the most part tilled by 
their owners. 

In this section mixed husbandry largely predominates with dairying, truck- 
ing, and canning being made very prominent. Baltimore is about the center 
of this area and Washington at one side, and with two such great cities there 
is a never-ceasing demand for all classes of farm products. 

Western Maryland is composed of Garrett, Allegany, Washington, and Fred- 
erick Counties. This section of the State is wedged in between Pennsylvania 
and the Virginias, and is the mountainous portion of the State. Bituminous 
coal mines abound in Garrett and Allegany Counties and give a stimulus to 
industry and manufacturing operations. Prosperous farming is also carried 
on extensively. 

Western Maryland is a succession of parallel ranges of mountains with deep 
and generally fertile valleys which drain chiefly into the Potomac River. The 
mountains reach 3,000 feet in altitude, and in the west form a high plateau on 
which are situated many productive farms. Garrett and Allegany Counties 
are naturally well adapted to grazing, and stock raising should be more largely 
pursued than at present. Apples do well in these counties. Oats, buckwheat, 
and potatoes are the principal crops. Garrett County produces about 250,000 
pounds of maple sugar annually and about every farm has a chestnut grove 
which adds considerable to the county's income. 

Washington and Frederick Counties abound in productive forms. Very 
little land in these counties is uncultivated, and they are the best farms of 
any in the State. The farms are generally tilled by the owners. The land is 
mostly of limestone origin. Wheat, corn, and hay crops are large. Consider- 
able attention is paid to the raising of stock of all kinds. Horses from these 
counties are always in demand in Baltimore and Washington markets, and 
command the highest prices because of their endurance and general good 
qualities. Fruit growing has developed to large proportions in Washington 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 71 

County within the last few years, and many mountain lands which a few 
years ago were considered almost worthless are now growing peaches, apples, 
plums, and cherries to perfection, and proving profitable investments. 

SPECIAL AGRICULTUEAL FEATURES OF MARYLAND. 

The geographical position of Maryland with reference to the center of popu- 
lation, together with the climatic and soil conditions, make the following spe- 
cial kinds of farming pecularly adapted to the State: Canning, dairying, 
orchard fruits, small fruits, truck crops, poultry, sheep, and hogs. 

Canning. — Maryland was one of the pioneer States in the canning industry, 
and still occupies a very important place in that business. At the present 
time Maryland stands first in the amount of tomatoes canned ; first in peas ; 
and fourth in corn. Maryland packs nearly half of all the tomatoes canned 
in the United States and about one-fourth of the total amount of pea,s. 

Dairying. — Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, together 
with numerous small towns, gives a good market for all kinds of dairy prod- 
ucts, but especially so for milk and cream. These markets have caused a 
large dairy interest to grow up in the State and developed some exceptionally 
fine dairy farms and herds. 

Orchard fruits. — Maryland was probably the pioneer State in the growing 
of orchard fruits on a commercial basis. The first large orchards were of 
peaches, and were planted in the year of 1800. The industry started in Anne 
Arundel County, south of Baltimore city, but soon reached the Eastern Shore, 
where it spread very rapidly until almost the whole shore was one large 
peach orchard. The extent of peach growing, with the beauty and quality of 
the fruit, made the State famous for this product. The " peach yellows " 
after some years worked destruction to many orchards and made the growing 
on the Eastern Shore unprofitable for a few years, but the industry in that 
section is again increasing rapidly. In 1875 the discovery was made that a 
belt of land along the South Mountain in western Maryland was peculiarly 
adapted to peaches, and the first commercial orchard was planted in that sec- 
tion. From the very small plantings made about 30 years ago at Edgemont, 
peach growing has developed in all directions, until the Maryland mountain 
peaches have taken a very prominent place in the markets. Pears, plums, 
and cherries are grown quite extensively in many parts of the State. Apples 
grow well in all parts of the State, and in every section will be found some 
commercial orchards. Chestnuts, shellbarks, English walnuts, filberts, and 
pecans grow in many parts of the State and are beginning to receive some 
attention commercially. 

Small fruits. — The growing of small fruits receives special attention in all 
parts of the State, but is conducted on an extensive scale only in the vicinity 
of large cities and on the " Eastern Shore." While this industry had its incep- 
tion in supplying the local markets it has now grown so that the shipments 
to the distant markets are more remunerative than the home trade. During 
the season Maryland berries are found in almost every city and town as far 
north as Montreal, Canada, and in plentiful seasons so far west as Cleveland 
and Chicago. Of the small fruits the strawberry is the most important, but 
raspberries and blackberries occupy a prominent place. Maryland produces 
more strawberries than any other State in the Union. Maryland has large areas 
of land well adapted to small fruits, which, together with the favorable climate, 
is sure to keep this one of the specialties of the farm, and the prominence of 
this crop will increase as the growers fully realize the response which they 
give to good management and intensive culture. 

Truck crops. — Maryland has large areas well adapted to vegetables of all 
kinds, and fortunately these lands are situated near the large cities, and also 
near the water courses, which seem to give a climatic condition favorable to 
their growth. Vegetables are grown principally for their consumption in the 
fresh state, but also to a considerable extent for canning. 

Truck farming will always be one of the great specialties, not only because 
of the good markets, but also because this class of farming gives quick returns 
for the labor and money invested. Again, truck farming will permit of growing 
two or three crops a season on the same land, which alone permits of relatively 
Larger returns than most of the staple crops. Most all truck crops respond 
wonderfully to intensive manuring and culture. 

Poultry, sheep, and hogs. — Poultry, sheep, and hogs are probably the most 
profitable live stock for Maryland farmers. 



72 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



Poultry does well in the eastern, southern, and western parts of the State, 
and if properly managed there is no difficulty in having good yields of eggs in 
winter. In eastern and southern Maryland it is easy to have green pastures 
for poultry all the year. Good poultry always commands a good price as 
meat, and the market never seems to get enough eggs and the price is relatively 
high. 

The growing of sheep wherever pursued is found quite profitable. The raising 
of early lambs is probably the most profitable branch of sheep raising and 
should be more largely pursued. 

Hogs are extensively grown in the dairy and mixed husbandry sections of the 
State. They are reasonably free from disease and always meet with remunera- 
tive prices and ready sale. The raising of hogs is sure to increase when 
farmers in the cowpeas and soy-bean sections of the State come to realize the 
value of these crops in producing pork of exceptional quality very cheaply. 

Transportation and Markets. — Maryland is well served by railroads in all 
parts — main lines are the Baltimore & Ohio; Northern Central; Philadel- 
phia, Baltimore & Washington ; Western Maryland ; West Virginia, Central 
& Pittsburgh. There are numerous electric lines. Chesapeake Bay and its 
numerous branches furnish ample communication both internally and for 
export trade. There are also numerous connecting canals that help the inland 
communication. The Potomac River is likewise an important means of water 
communication in the South and West. Baltimore is a port of entry with ex- 
tensive exports and imports. 

Roads. — Maryland is famous for her well-built State-controlled road system. 
Excellent roads connect all important points — every county seat is connected 
with the State capital by improved highways. The State road system is 
being rapidly extended. There are now approximately 1,000 miles of State 
roads and 300 miles of State-aided roads. These roads are constructed of 
macadam, concrete, gravel, and shell. 

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. 

Maryland has a well-developed system of public schools which is improving 
yearly. Every farm is within reach of a good primary school, and all but three 
counties are well provided with high schools. The colleges of the State provide 
for higher education on liberal and economical terms. 

Every section of the State is well provided with church facilities. 

RESTING OR UNUSED LAND IN MARYLAND. 

According to the Thirteenth Census, there was in Maryland in 1910, ap- 
proximately 1,350,000 acres of improved land that was unproductive. The 
resting was distributed as follows : 





Resting land. 


County. 


Resting land. 


County. 


Area. 


Per cent 
of land • 

im- 
proved. 


Area. 


Per cent 
of land 

im- 
proved. 


Allegany 


Acres . 
39,300 
68, 600 
78, 900 
51,500 
43,600 
59, 200 
49, 700 
80, 600 
51,600 
85, 100 
62, 000 
73,200 


55.8 
49.3 
34.2 
69.5 
34.1 
26. 2 
35.3 
66.3 
41.8 
28.0 
50.7 
42.7 


Howard 


Acres. 

45, 200 
38,800 
87,400 
95,300 
65, 500 
53,900 
34,200 
37,900 
51,700 
43,800 
54, 000 


39.6 


A nne Arundel 


Kent 


27.7 


Baltimore 


Montgomery 


41.3 


Cal e-t 


Prince Georges 


61.7 


Caroline 


Queen Amies 


38.2 


Carroll 


bt. Marys 


54.8 


Cecil 


Somerset 


44.7 


Charles 


Talbot... 


32.2 


Do "Chester 


Washington 


26.9 


Fre ierick 


Wicomico 


40.1 


Garrett 


Worcester 


43.5 


Harford 











Some of the resting land is in such a low state of fertility that its cultivation 
is not profitable, but much of this improved land is not in crops because of 
lack of sufficient labor and capital. In addition to the improved land that 
is not being cropped there is within the State approximately 1,700,000 acres of 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 73 

unimproved land, much of which might be developed for agricultural purposes. 
The potential value of this land is greatly enhanced by its proximity to great 
centers of population and the good transportation facilities offered by the 
railroads, the rivers and bays, and the splendid system of State highways. 



MISSISSIPPI. 

The governor of Mississippi has so far appointed no committee 
nor has the legislature taken any action concerning the soldier set- 
tlement program. The legislature has not been in session for over a 
year and will not convene until 1920. At a State-wide meeting of 
interested citizens, however, a committee was named which is per- 
forming the functions of the committee officially named in all the 
States of the southern district and will continue to do so until super- 
seded by one officially designated. The members of such committee 
are : P. P. Garner, State commissioner of agriculture, chairman, Jack- 
son; C. T. Stevens, Hattiesburg; J. B. Lusk, Jackson; R. M. Weaver, 
Corinth; J. C. Seller, Yazoo City; Lamar Henington, Hattiesburg; 
M. S. Connor, Seminary ; and H. A. Camp, Hattiesburg. 

The total area figures for Mississippi are: 

Acres. 

Land 29, 675, 000 

In crop 8, 100, 000 

Unimproved in farms 9, 500, 000 

Merchantable timber 5, 500, 000 

Cut-over land 13, 500, 000 

Swamp land 3, 000, 000 

Overflow land 2, 750, 000 

Total number of farms, 295,000. 

In other words, about one-tenth is swamp land, another tenth 
overflow land, and nearly half is cut-over land ; while somewhat more 
than one-fourth the land was in crop last year. 

Practically the entire State is coastal plain and less than a twen- 
tieth is above the 500-foot contour. Only the southeastern tip 
about Mobile and a narrow strip along the Mississippi below Greens- 
ville is below the 100-foot contour. The highest point is 780 feet 
above sea level and the average for the State 300 feet. The wet 
lands, swamp and overflow, are very largely in a strip averaging 
about 50 miles wide along the Mississippi River. 

Preliminary investigations in the field of project opportunities 
were confined to cut-over lands. The fact that there are about 
13,500,000 acres of such land often held in large tracts as a by-prod- 
uct of recent lumbering indicates the relative extent of project op- 
portunities. Many other attractive lands of other types will no 
doubt be brought forward when funds and authority permit dealing 
upon a concrete basis. 

The Hattiesburg project. — Only the largest compact tract offered 
and examined will be described as fairly typical of those in cut-over 
areas. It is located in the southeastern part of the State and com- 
prises land in Perry, Forrest, Jeff Davis, Lamar, and Covington 
Counties. Hattiesburg, a city of 25,000 people, and one of great 
railroad importance, is the chief city of the project. Sumrall, Lamar 
County, and New Augusta, Perry County, are next in importance. 
Many railroad lines run through this tra^t, among Avhich are the 
Southern (New Orleans & Northeastern), the Gulf, Mobile & North- 
ern, the Mississippi Central, and the Gulf & Ship Island. 



74 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

The elevation of this land is from 200 to 350 feet above sea level, 
ranging from great, level areas to rolling and even hilly. The soil 
is a sandy loam, and in some places a silt loam, from 6 to 10 inches 
deep, with a subsoil of red sandy clay. In a few places the subsoil 
is of a yellowish color. Comprehensive discussion of these soils is 
given in the reports of the United States Bureau of Soils, which 
made a survey of Forrest County in 1911, Jones County in 1913, and 
Jeff Davis County in 1915. 

The principal crops are corn, cotton, velvet beans, and potatoes, 
although all the staple southern crops thrive here. The native tim- 
ber is the pine — both the long and short leaf — and, in relatively 
small quantities, scrub oak and gum. 

The climate of the area is that of the warm Temperate Zone. For 
the summer months the mean temperature is 82° with a maximum 
of 103°, and for the winter months 51° with a minimum of about 
10°, although the thermometer has been known to touch zero. A 
killing frost rarely occurs before November 1 in the fall or after 
March 1 in the spring, thus giving a growing season of an average 
length of 245 days. The mean annual precipitation is about 55 
inches, is greatest in the winter, but is generally well distributed. 
Years of excessive rainfall or slight droughts are quite frequent, 
though in the past 10 years there have been only two damaging 
droughts. 

Good water in abundant quantities is found at depth of from 25 
to 500 feet, while in some places artesian water is found at a depth 
of from 70 to 300 feet and in others it is rare and found only at 
a depth of 1,000 feet. 

This land is owned in enormous tracts, a great many of them over 
50,000 acres in size. There have been offers of several hundred 
thousand acres by one company alone. 

The price per acre of raw land here is $7.50. 

The reclamation work would consist of some drainage and levee- 
ing, clearing, addition to the soil of lime, phosphate, nitrate of soda, 
and humus, and road building. Going-concern farms would cost 
not to exceed $125 per acre, or not over $10,000,000 for an 80,000- 
acre colony. 

In January of this year two soil experts from the Agricultural and 
Mechanical College made an examination of 120,000 acres of land 
in the Hattiesburg project and from their report I quote the follow- 
ing: 

On the whole the average of these lands appears to be as good as any lands 
in the Southern States — good drainage, soils easily cultivated, abundant rain- 
fall, exceptional transportation facilities, good highways with lands in easy 
reach of several large commercial centers. Therefore we have no hesitancy in 
saying that we were very favorably impressed with them. 



McNeill Beanch Experiment Station, 

Poplarville, Miss., May 21, 1919. 
Mr. H. T. Cory, 

Consulting Engineer, Reclamation Service, 

Washington, D. C. 
Dear Sir : I have read your report on the agricultural possibilities of Missis- 
sippi soils that have been offered the Government for soldier settlement projects 
and want to say that all your statements are substantially correct. For 17 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 75 

years I have had charge of an experiment station located on typical cut-over 
pine hinds and in this time have acquired a fair knowledge of the nature of 
such soils. Your report does not exaggerate the possibilities of these lands, 
but states in simple words the advantages and disadvantages that one must 
expect in developing them. In fact, I was one of the two soil experts who 
examined the lands offered at Hattiesburg and reference to this report will 
show that we substantially agree. The report referred to was made at the 
instance of the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College. 

For reasons mentioned in your report, ours is an extremely undeveloped 
section and if the plans of the department are carried to completion it will be 
the means of a great development in this section. 

If I can be of any assistance to you at any time, it will afford me great 
pleasure to be called upon, and I know the director of the United States sta- 
tion at McNeill, Mr. S. W. Greene, will be equally glad to render assistance. 
Yours, truly, 

E. B. Ferris. 



Meeting of Soldier Settlement Committee. 

At a meeting of the members of the soldier settlement project, held at the 
Jackson Board of Trade at 10 o'clock a. m. on Tuesday, May 30, 1919, pur- 
suant to the call of P. P. Garner, chairman, there were present and partici- 
pating P. P. Garner, Jackson ; J. B. Lusk, Jackson ; M. S. Conner, Seminary ; 
Lamar Hennington, Hattiesburg; C. Z. Stevens, by P. G. Jones, his proxy, 
Hattiesburg; H. A. Camp, by T. C. Hannah, his proxy, Hattiesburg; R. M. 
Weaver, by P. P. Garner, his proxy, Corinth. Absent, J. C. Zellner, Yazoo 
City. 

It appearing that a quorum of the members of said committee were present, 
the meeting was called to order by the chairman, who stated that the meeting 
had been called for the purpose of considering the report of H. T. Cory, con- 
sulting engineer, covering his investigations of the State of Mississippi in con- 
nection with the soldier settlement project. 

After a full discussion and careful consideration of said report, the following 
resolution was offered and unanimously adopted, to wit : 

Be it resolved, That it is the sense of those here present that the report 
of H. T. Cory, consulting engineer, covering his investigation of the State of 
Mississippi in connection with the solder settlement land project, although 
general in its terms, is quite accurate and conservative. 

The 13,500,000 acres of cut-over lands in south Mississippi is symbolic of the 
pioneer character of the section. It is largely the by-product of extensive 
lumbering industries, largely owned and controlled by nonresidents, who have 
acquired these lands for the sold purpose of manufacturing the merchantable 
timber into lumber and converting this into cash, with little consideration, 
until recent years, being given to land usage. The country, being sparsely 
settled by people with very limited means, equipped with meager, insufficient 
and inadequate farming implements, and without scientific agricultural train- 
ing or expert advice, has not enjoyed the development of other sections of 
the United States not so rich in natural resources. 

In more recent years, through the special aid given by the representatives of 
the Farm Extension Bureau of the Department of Agriculture, people at home 
and abroad have been made to realize the value of these lands for the produc- 
tion of cotton, corn, oats, hay, sweet and Irish potatoes, peanuts, sugar cane, 
velvet beans, fruits, and vegetables, all of which are now being successfully and 
profitably grown. In addition, the bountiful supply of pure water, supplied by a 
number of live streams, has given great impetus to hog, sheep, and cattle raising, 
and especially to dairying. Faith in the possibilities of these lands has recently 
been substantially evidenced on the part of resident and nonresident owners of 
large tracts, who have made heavy expenditures in establishing farms that 
have already demonstrated the agricultural and stock-raising possibilities of 
this section ; but the task is of too great magnitude for the capital and labor they 
can command. 

A factor which has in the past deterred the people from the North and East 
from considering this district was the general misunderstanding of climatic and 



76 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



health conditions. We here set out the record of the average temperature for a 
period of 50 years : 

Climatic conditions. 



Mean temperature : 

January 57 

February 49. 2 

March 56. 7 

April 62. 3 

May 73. 1 

June 78 

July 79. 8 

August 80. 3 

September 73.6 

October 63. 3 

November 54. 4 

December 49.8 



Mean temperature for last 50 
years : 

January 50 

February 51 

March 63 

April 67. 

May 71 

June 78 

July 81 

August 81 

September 76 

October 62 

November 54 

December 50 



Annual 
ture 



mean tempera- 



67.8 



Average rainfall for last 50 
years : Inches. 

January 5. 54 

February 5 

March 6. 1 

April 5. 36 

May 3.90 

June 2.87 



Average rainfall for last 50 
years — Continued. Inches. 

July 5. 59 

August - 5.75 

September 3. 75 

October 2. 07 

November 4.35 

December 5. 01 



Rainfall for 1916: 

January 7. 24 

February 3. 38 

March 3. 73 

April 3. 37 

May 4.96 

June 2. 87 

July . 15 

August 4.43 

September . 15 

October 3. 21 

November 2. 73 

December 4. 08 



Mean annual rainfalL 



58.5 



Humidity (relative humidity) : Percent. 

January 85 

February 75 

March 73 

April 72 

May 72 

June 77 

July 86 

August 80 

September 74.5 

October 76 

November 73 

December 80 



Mean annual humidity- 77 



While occasional maximum temperature here, as in other parts of the United 
States, may seem high, we submit that the mean temperatures are extraordi- 
narily favorable. These higher mean temperatures of the day are further 
ameliorated by the gentle Gulf breeze, the nights being invariably cool and 
pleasant. 

The question of health, in so far as this section is concerned, we believe has 
now been settled once for all. Camp Shelby is located in the midst of the 
soldier-settlement project covered by the report of Mr. Cory. We can point to 
no higher or better authority than the comparative health record covering all 
the Army camps and cantonments in the United States, which is as follows : 



Annual 
Camp : death rate - 

Beauregard 55. 

Bowie 35. 4 

Cody 40. 6 

Greenleaf 32. 3 

Hancock 37. 2 

Kearny 18. 

Logan 21. 5 

MacArthur 19. 8 

McClellan 29. 5 

-Sevier 38. 5 



Annual 
Camp— Continued. death rate. 

Shelby 9. 4 

Sheridan 19. 6 

Wadsworth 22. 2 

Wheeler 23. 

Custer 42. 2 

Devons 46. 2 

Dix 41.8 

Dodge 50. 5 

Custis 33. 1 

Forrest 39. 3 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



77 



Annual 
Camp— Continued. death rate. 

Fremont '. 20. 4 

Greene 48. 8 

Funston 43. 5 

Gordon 15. 9 

Grant 59. 

Humphreys 57. 6 

Jackson 23. 5 

Johnston 17. 1 

Las Casas 17. 5 



Annual 
Camp — Continued. death rate. 

Lee 31.2 

Lewis 12. 8 

Meade 42. 3 

Pike 25. 7 

Sherman 68. 6 

Taylor 39. 9 

Travis 18. 6 

Upton___- 28.4 



These figures were submitted the first part of January, 1919. 

P. P. Garner, Chairman. 
J. B. Lusk, Secretary. 



NORTH CAROLINA. 

The committee representing the Commonwealth of North Carolina 
was appointed by Gov. Thomas W. Bickett, in February, 1919, and 
consists of Mr. George Herbert Smith, chairman, Wilmington ; Capt. 
George T. Leach, Washington; and Mr. J. E. Page, Aberdeen. 

In addition to this committee many data and much valuable assist- 
ance were furnished by Mr. Hugh McRae, of Wilmington ; Mr. Mark 
Potter and his associates about Bell Haven; Mr. F. H. Aberly; and 
numerous other public-spirited gentlemen of Newbern; Mr. Millard 
and associated officials of the John I. Roper Co; and the North Caro- 
lina Landowners' Association. 

The total area figures of the State are approximately : 

Acres. 

Land area 31, 200, 000 

In crop + 7, 250, 000 

Unimproved in farms 13, 500, 000 

Merchantable timber 7, 500, 000 

Cut-over land 13, 000, 000 

Swampland 1, 000, 000 

Wet grazing land 500, 000 

Periodically overflow land 500, 000 

Periodically swampy land 750, 000 

Total number of farms, 275,000. 

That is, less than one- fourth the State was in crop last year, an 
equal amount is in merchantable timber and nearly half is cut-over 
land. About one- tenth is wet land, but much of this is also cut-over 
land. 

North Carolina is essentially an agricultural State, having a popu- 
lation of about 2,200,000 and no city with 40,000 inhabitants (1910 
census) and but two with over 20,000. To-day (1919) there are per- 
haps two cities with over 40,000. 

The State is 485 miles long east and west and reaches from the 
Atlantic to the heart of the Alleghany Mountains — including the 
highest elevation east of the Mississippi River, 6,711 feet above sea 
level. In a general way, the eastern quarter is under the 100-foot 
contour, the next quarter between the 100 and 500 foot contours, the 
next quarter between the 500 and the 1,000 foot contours, and 
the western fourth higher than 1,000 feet — all these contours running 
approximately parallel to the eastern and western boundaries. 

Investigations of soldier-settlement colonies were confined to the 
eastern part — under the 100- foot contour — simply because in this 



78 DEVELOPMENT OE. UNUSED LANDS. 

region are many holdings of land of excellent quality, requiring only 
drainage and clearing to fit them for farm uses. There are doubtless 
many opportunities in the western end for stock-breeding colonies,, 
such as outlined for southern Kentucky and West Virginia ; in the 
Piedmont Plateau section for " abandoned " land colonies, such as 
recommended for Maryland and Virginia; and in the Thermal Belt 
for relatively large fruit colonies. When authority and funds are 
available for dealing upon a definite basis, State- wide notice will 
doubtless result in attractive offers from all over the State. 

Five meritorious projects along the coast were investigated in con- 
siderable detail — -a total of nearly a million acres — the most northern 
one being in the Dismal Swamp, which lies partly in this State and 
partly in Virginia. This famous swamp is now well on the way of 
being reclaimed by private interests. 

The Ncwbern project. — Only one of the areas examined will be 
described, that known as the Newbern project, which is fairly 
typical of conditions in the northeastern portion of the State; and 
as far as climate, length of growing season, and rainfall are con- 
cerned is typical also of the area north and west of the city of Wil- 
mington. The Newbern project comprises a large part of Craven 
County, and small portions of Carteret and Jones Counties. New- 
bern, the county seat of Craven County, situated on the Neuse River,, 
with a population of 10,000 (1910 census), is just north of the pro- 
posed tract, and is the closest city of any importance. The main 
part of the project lies between the Norfolk & Southern Railroad on 
the east and the Newbern branch of the Atlantic Coast Line Rail- 
road on the west, and consists of 150,000 acres. The Trent and Neuse 
Rivers, which pass through these lands, are navigable for boats of 
9-foot draft. 

The whole section requires drainage. The central portion is a 
high, broad, flat summit of land called a pocoson, which has an eleva- 
tion of between 42 and 80 feet above sea level. The outer edges are 
much better drained than the central portion. In the better-drained 
portions the soil is dark-gray, fine sandy loam from 4 to 12 inches 
in depth, with a sticky, yellow clay subsoil, and its natural growth is 
pine. Back in the central part of the tract, where the drainage is;' 
poorer, the soil consists of a black muck from 1 to 3 feet in depth,, 
underlain by a clay subsoil. On this there is a strong growth of 
gum, cypress, maple, poplar, and pocoson pine. When properly 
drained, cleared, and cultivated this land will produce excellent 
crops of corn and cotton. The United States Bureau of Soils in 1900 
made a survey of the Raleigh to Newbern area and in 1903 the' 
Craven area. 

The winters in this locality are unusually mild, having a mean 
temperature of 45.2° and a minimum seldom below 18°. The sum- 
mers are pleasant, with a maximum temperature of 96° and a mean, 
temperature of 77.3°. There are nearly seven months in the year 
when no killing frosts occur. The average date of the first killing 
frost in the fall is November 4 and the last in the spring April 1, 
leaving a growing season of 218 days. The annual precipitation- 
averages about 56 inches, is well distributed, but greatest in the 
summer months, when growing plants most need the rain, and least: 
in the fall during the season of harvest. Well water of good quality 
is found at a depth of 10 to 30 feet. The land is owned in large- 



DEVELOPMENT OE UNUSED LANDS. 79 

tracts, averaging over 10,000 acres, and the largest single holding 
contains 39.000 acres. The price asked per acre is $9. 

The reclamation work would consist of road building and exten- 
sive drainage, clearing, the addition to the soil of lime and of fertiliz- 
ing ingredients. The average per acre going concern farm with a 
project of 80,000 acres or more would probably not exceed $125 per 
acre. 

The great areas north and west of the city of Wilmington which 
have not been described are principally served by the Atlantic Coast 
Line Kailroad and the Seaboard Air Line Kailway and differ from 
the Newbern area in having larger percentage of soils of the sandy 
loam types and a somewhat longer growing season. Lands of the 
sandy loam type are adapted to a wide range of farm products, in- 
cluding practically every crop grown in the United States except the 
citrus fruits. 



SOUTH CAROLINA. 

The official committee for South Carolina, as appointed by Gov. 
R. A. Cooper, consists of R. N. Lathan, chairman, Charleston; Wil- 
liam Gifford, Gifford; W. H. Andrews, Andrews; E. W. Durant, 
Charleston ; and Joseph Shank, Georgetown. 

In addition, Senator Nathan Dial, ex-Gov. D. C. Haywarcl, the 
South Carolina Landowners' Association, with its secretary manager, 
Mr. George R. Wheeler, and Mr. C. S. Ucker, vice president and 
general manager of the Southern Settlement and Development Or- 
ganization, rendered most helpful assistance. 

The total area figures for South Carolina are : 

Acres. 

Land 19, 516, 000 

In crop - 6, 900, 000 

Unimproved in farms 7, 400, 000 

Merchantable timber 3, 000, 000 

Cut-over land 9, 500, 000 

Swamp land 1, 500, 000 

Periodically swamp land 1, 000, 000 

Overflow land 625, 000 

Total number of farms, 190,000. 

Thus, nearly one-eighth is wet land, one-half is cut-over land, and 
about two -fifths in crop last year. The swamp land consists almost 
entirely of a strip 50 miles wide along the Atlantic Ocean, and much 
of it is cut-over land as well. 

Almost one-third the State is below the 100-foot contour, a third 
between the 100-foot and the 500-foot contours, and the remainder 
from 500 feet to a maximum of 3,548 feet above sea level. The lines 
dividing these thirds run quite parallel to the coast line and the mean 
elevation of all is 250 feet. 

Like North Carolina on the north and Georgia to the south, the 
State has three physiographic divisions, coastal plain, Piedmont 
Plateau, and the mountain region. About one-half of the State is 
coastal plain or " low country," and to this portion all the investiga- 
tions were confined — indeed, to the lower pine-belt part of it. 

There are no doubt attractive project opportunities both in the 
" up country " and in the upper pine belt of the " low country," 
which will be brought out by widespread notice when definite deal- 
ing may be in order. The lower pine-belt part of the low country 



80 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

is, however, the least developed, and the first investigations were 
therefore naturally centered there. 

The Georgetown project. — Of the four large projects outlined and 
examined, with a total of almost 600,000 acres, a quite typical one is 
selected for description, the Georgetown project. This is a belt about 
10 miles wide and 30 miles long extending from northeast to south- 
west through the center of Georgetown County. Only about 5,000 
acres of the project lie outside of this belt. There is only one town 
of any size in the whole county and that is the county seat, George- 
town, with a population of about 6,000, which is 5 miles from the 
center of the area. Its only railroad connection is a branch of the 
Seaboard Air Line, which connects with the main line at Lanes. 
While the railroad facilities are poor, the water transportation facili- 
ties are excellent. The Peedee, Black, and Santee Rivers are navi- 
gable beyond the limits of the county and the Sampit for about 10 
miles from its mouth. 

The topography is level to gently undulating except where cut by 
the Black River, where it becomes more like the sand-hill country. 
The elevation for the most part is around 30 feet above sea level. 

The soils of this area are unusually uniform and consist of three 
types — Coxville fine sandy loam, Portsmouth loam, and Norfolk fine 
sand. There is probably no finer soil for general farming in the 
coastal plain than the Coxville fine sandy loam, when well drained. 
Rice is the principal crop, though after drainage has been completed 
cotton, corn, oats, and cowpeas can be easily raised. The native 
timber is typically that of the pine plains and gum swamp growth. 
In 1912 the United States Bureau of Soils made a survey of George- 
town County, which includes the region under discussion. 

The climate is mild with winters short and open, having a mean 
temperature of 51° and a minimum of 7°. The summers have a mean 
temperature of 81° and a maximum of 104°. The average date of the 
first killing frost in the fall is November 30 and the last in the spring 
March 3, thus giving a growing season of nine months. The mean 
annual precipitation is 50 inches and is well distributed. 

An abundance of good water is to be found. 

The project as drawn contains 97,000 acres held by some 44 different 
owners. The tracts are comparatively small for this part of the 
State, the prices for which range from $5 to $15 per acre. 

The reclamation work would consist of extensive drainage, clear- 
ing, mosquito prevention, road building, and the addition to the soil 
of lime, phosphate, nitrogen, and humus. The total cost of going 
concern farms would not exceed $100 per acre or $10,000,000 for a 
100,000-acre project. 

OKLAHOMA. 

The committee appointed by Gov. J. B. A. Robertson to represent 
the Commonwealth of Oklahoma consists of State Senator E. M. 
Kerr, Muskogee ; State Senator T. P. Hill, McAlester ; State Senator 
R. L. Davidson, Tulsa ; State Senator T. C. Simpson, Thomas ; Rep- 
resentative Bert Jackson, Chickasha ; and Representative James Hol- 
larn, Cement. 

In addition, committees were appointed by the chambers of com- 
merce at Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and others, and especial thanks are 
due all of them for enthusiastic and very helpful assistance. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 81 

The total area figures are : 

Acreb. 

Land 1 44, 421, 000 

In crop 13, 750, 000 

Unimproved in farms 8, 500, 000 

Merchantable timber 4, 500, 000 

Cut-over land 3, 000, 000 

Swamp land 75, 000 

Overflow land __ __ - 200, 000 

Total number of farms, 220,000. 

The wet and overflow lands are chiefly along a few streams in the 
eastern part of the State where is also located the cut-over and in- 
ferior timberlands. Considering the extent of Indian-owned lands, 
and the relatively light rainfall in the western portion, the area of 
land in crops last year — 13,750,000 acres — is surprising. This is more 
than half that in Texas and over a million acres more than any other 
State in the southern district — Georgia following with 12,621,000 and 
Alabama next with 10,570,000 acres. Further, although only 12 years 
old in its present form, its population is almost if not quite 2,500,000 
and its largest city well above 100,000. 

The United States Reclamation Service had already quite thor- 
oughly examined the irrigation possibilities without discovering any 
attractive possibilities of any size. Therefore the investigations 
were confined to drainage and cutover land, although it was recog- 
nized that stock breeding colonies along the same general lines as 
those outlined in southeastern Kentucky and West Virginia might 
be desired by many soldier settlers and that the release of certain 
Indian lands would enable several additional attractive diversified 
farming projects to be planned. The official Oklahoma committee 
was appointed too late to take any action as to the type of colony 
or colonies preferred by Oklahoma or to consider the matter of re- 
leasing Indian lands, and so justify additional investigations before 
preparing this report. 

Considering only the data now at hand, it will not be desirable to 
consolidate all soldier settlement in one colony — there should be sev- 
eral of 25,000 acres and under, several opportunities for which have 
been examined. 

Practically all of the State is above the 500-foot contour and the 
western half is from 1,000 feet to a maximum of 4,750 feet above sea 
level; the lowest extreme is 300 feet and the mean elevation L300 
feet. None of the rivers are large; no overflow bottom lands over 
3 miles wide. Some of the streams are, however, sluggish and tor- 
tuous. 

The Verdigris project. — Three project opportunities will be de- 
scribed as sample ones of different types. The first, the Verdigris 
project, is located north of Muskogee in Wagoner County along the 
Verdigris River. The region is already well developed and readily 
accessible to the markets. The upper end is about 6 miles from 
Inola, located on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and the lower end 
is from 3 to 6 miles from Porter, on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas 
Railroad. Close to its eastern edge the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & 
Southern, and the Missouri, Oklahoma & Gulf Railroads run. 

The largest part of this region consists of prairie plain and 
bottom lands, with a topography nearly level to rolling, and an 

141901— H. Doc. 262, 66-1 6 



82 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

elevation from 500 to TOO feet above sea level. The types of soil 
divide themselves into three groups — first, Great Plains (residual 
prairie) soils; second, Ozark border soils; and, third, alluvial soils. 
These soils produce cotton, corn, potatoes, alfalfa, and other crops 
already, and when properly drained would be unusually fertile. 
Most of this land is quite heavily timbered and the rest of it has a 
scattering of timber. A considerable portion of this wooded area 
is saw timber ranging from 10 inches to 3 feet in diameter. The 
timber consists of white oak, burr oak, red oak, pin oak, water oak, 
ash, black walnut, pecan, hickory, elm, soft maple, locust, and 
cottonwood. The nearest soil survey that has been made is the one of 
Muskogee County, made in 1913 by the United States Bureau of 
Soils. 

The climate of this region is exceptionally favorable for agricul- 
tural pursuits. The winters are short and extreme cold is a rarity. 
The mean winter temperature is 39.3° with a minimum of 14° below 
zero, and the mean summer temperature is 78.3° with a maximum of 
109°. The average date of the first killing frost in the fall is 
November 2 and the last in the spring is March 30, giving a grow- 
ing season of 217 days. The mean annual precipitation is reported 
at 38.98 inches and is quite well distributed. There are periods of 
drought nearly every summer but only in isolated instances are they 
of serious damage to the crops. 

At a depth of from 40 to 70 feet a bountiful supply of good water 
can be secured. 

The land in this locality is owned in relatively small tracts. The 
price per acre is reported at $50. 

The reclamation work would consist largely of drainage, some 
leveling and clearing, and road building. It is estimated that the 
cost of entirely reclaiming this land would be about $40 per acre, 
which expense would be justified because it would bring into cultiva- 
tion some of the richest land in the Southwest with a selling value of 
$150 per acre. The total cost of soldier-settlement going-corncern 
farms would not exceed $125 per acre. 

The Atoka project. — One of the most desirable available bodies of 
land for soldier settlements in Oklahoma lies in Atoka, Coal, and 
Pontotoc Counties, and comprises approximately 60,000 acres. This 
tract lies in what is known as the Clear Boggy River Valley. The 
largest towns in this region are Atoka, Coalgate, and Ada, the 
county seats of Atoka, Coal, and Pontotoc Counties, respectively. 
Several branches of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad traverse 
this area, as well as the St. Louis & Santa Fe and the Missouri, 
Oklahoma & Gulf Railroads. Drainage is furnished through the 
Clear Boggy River. 

The topography of this area is from level to rolling. No soil sur- 
veys have been made by the United States Bureau of Soils anywhere 
very near this tract, the closest being the survey made of the Mus- 
kogee area in 1913. The soil is of that rich black sandy loam, in gen- 
eral, and is a deposit of the rich topsoils of the upcountry which has 
been washed down and quite evenly distributed by reason of stiff 
currents and many eddies and certain areas of backwater. This 
topsoil is wonderfully fertile and runs as high as 14 feet in depth. 
Cotton and corn are the principal crops. Vegetables and all kinds 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 83 

of garden truck are also raised. Most abundant growths of grasses 
are also found here. The native timber consists of pine and oak. 

The climate of this region is unusually adapted to agriculture. 
The summers are^warm and the winters mild, no long spells of very 
cold weather occurring. The growing season is a long one, consist- 
ing of about seven and a half months — from March 1 to the middle 
of October. The annual rainfall is particularly well distributed 
and averages from 45 to 50 inches. 

The district committee for this section reports the price for which 
these lands could be purchased as follows, approximately: Bottom 
land, unimproved, 58,000 acres, at $20 per acre; partially improved, 
2,000 acres, at $75 per acre. 

Certain reclamation work would be necessary in order to make a 
portion of this land available for cultivation, consisting of drainage,, 
clearing, road building, and the addition to the soil of certain ele- 
ments. The estimated average cost per acre for reclamation work is 
as follows: 

Atoka County $9. 40 

Coal County 13. 19 

Pontotoc County 13. 42: 

The committee hereinabove referred to has furnished blue prints 
and other reclamation data. 

The Osage project. — There are several areas in Osage County 
which would be available for soldier-settlement live-stock projects. 
This region is immediately north of the Arkansas Kiver, whi h fur- 
nishes drainage for it. Pawhuska, the county seat of Osage County, 
is a progressive little town of about 3,000 inhabitants. The Missouri, 
Kansas & Texas Railroad passes near and the Midland Valley Rail- 
road passes through Pawhuska. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 
Railroad traverses the southwestern part of the county. 

These lands are from level to gently rolling. No soil survey has 
been made by the United States Bureau of Soils except the one of 
Muskogee County before mentioned. The soil is a sandy loam and 
produces cotton, corn, wheat, and abundant grasses. The raising of 
live stock is the most successful occupation. Native timber consists 
principally of the hardwoods, though the whole area is but sparsely 
timbered. 

The climats of this region is temperate and healthful. The abso- 
lute extremes in temperature are 107° above and 16° below zero. 
The average mean summer temperature is 78.5° and for the winter 
37.5°. The average date of the first killing frost in the fall is October 
26 and the last in the spring is April 3, giving a growing season of 
about six and a half months. The annual precipitation is well dis- 
tributed and averages about 42 inches. 

As much as 10,000 acres could be rounded up in one boundary, and 
this could be bought for an approximate price on the average of 
$12.50 per acre. It would be necessary, hoAvever, to have certain 
small Indian allotments released by the removal of the Indian sales 
restrictions, but the establishment of a model cattle-producing in- 
dustry in Osage County would be most attractive and profitable to 
the investor. 

The reclamation work would consist of drainage, land clearing, 
road building, and the addition to the soil of phosphate, humus, 
nitrate of soda, and lime. 



'84 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

A large area of Osage County is now used as a cattle range, the 
native grasses furnishing the forage. 



TENNESSEE. 

The investigations in Tennessee were carried on in cooperation 
with the committee appointed by the Nashville Commercial Club, 
the Knoxville and Memphis Chambers of Commerce and the official 
committee appointed by Gov. A. H. Roberts, consisting of: W. R. 
Manier, chairman, secretary Commercial Club, Nashville; Wilbur 
A. Nelson, secretary, State geologist, Nashville; Dr. H. A. Morgan, 
dean of agricultural department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville ; 
Dr. F. M. McRee, commissioner of agriculture, Union City (after 
June 1, Nashville) ; and George N. Welch, railroad commissioner, 
Nashville. 

The total area figures for the State are : 

Acres. 

T.and 26, 680, 000 

In crop 7, 250, 000 

Unimproved in farm 9, 250, 000 

Merchantable timber 7, 000, 000 

€ut-over land 7, 800, 000 

Wet land 1, 000, 000 

Total number of farms, 260,000. 

Most of the wet lands are in a strip about 25 miles wide along 
the Mississippi River where the effectiveness of reclamation depends 
upon levee systems. The amount of cut-over lands about equals 
last year's cropped area — each somewhat less than one-third the total 
land. 

Tennessee is a little over 100 miles north and south and 400 miles 
long, extending from the Mississippi River on the west to the ridge 
of the Appalachians on the east. The highest point in the eastern 
end is 6,636 feet above sea level, the mean elevation for the State 
900 feet and the lowest point 182 feet. 

There are six principal physiographical features — the Unakas or 
Great Smokys, valley of east Tennessee, Cumberland plateau, High- 
land Rim, Central or Nashville Basin, and west Tennessee plateau 
and bottom lands. 

The Unakas is a belt about 13 miles wide along the entire eastern 
edge of the State about 1,275.000 acres foothills to the Unaka or 
Great Smoky Mountains. This belt lies above 1,500 feet and is a 
region of often rounded crests suited for grazing, steep timber, 
coned slopes, and deep gorge-like ravines. Practically all of the 
land is too steep for cultivation but there are small farms along the 
streams and broader coves. It is the " land of the sky " timbered 
with yellow poplar, hemlock, spruce, chestnut, and a great variety 
of valuable hardwoods, contains great water-power opportunities 
and abundant grazing grounds, and the land held in large blocks. 
Here exist several opportunities for stock-breeding colonies like those 
suggested for eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. 

West of the Unakas lies the valley of east Tennessee, which 
averages 50 miles wide, contains about 5,900.000 acres, and is about 
1,000 feet above sea level. It is a region of long northeast-southwest 
limestone and shale valleys separated by narrow saw-footed ridges 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 85 

of sandstone and chert. Agriculture is the chief industry and land 
holdings are of moderate size as the limestone valleys contain heavy 
soils or loams which are fertile, strong, durable, and suited to diver- 
sified farming. This is the most advanced region agriculturally. 
There are great water-power possibilities in this region. 

Next to the west is the Cumberland Plateau — a high tableland 
1 ,000 feet above the valley of east Tennessee on the east and 800 feet 
above the Highland Kim on the west. It faces the former with a 
fairly even escarpment 1,000 feet high and generally, precipitous, 
while on the western side it forms a series of projecting headlands. 
Consequently from either edge of this plateau wonderful views of 
the broad rich valley to the east and to the west are to be had. The 
area is from 30 to 50 miles east and west, extends clear across the 
State and comprises about 2,816,000 acres. Its elevation varies from 
1,500 to 2,000 feet above sea level. Summer climate and many 
springs gn T e use to a large number of health resorts. Its soil has 
generally been considered of small agricultural value and lumbering 
and coal mining are the chief industries. Perhaps half the land is 
held in large holdings for the coal and timber, or both. Surface 
rights to cut-over lands are held at only a few dollars an acre. 

The Highland Rim is a broad shelf completely surrounding the 
Central or Nashville Basin, with an average elevation of 975 feet 
above sea level, and an area of 6,000,000 acres. It is a rolling country 
underlain chiefly with limestone, though on the edge facing the Cen- 
tral Basin the rock is mainly chert. The limestone soils are fertile, 
while the cherty lands are more difficult of improvement. The chief 
industry is agriculture, although on the western rim lumbering and 
iron and phosphate mining are of local importance. 

The Central or Nashville Basin lies about 400 feet below the High- 
land Rim or 500 feet above sea level. It is a limestone basin contain- 
ing about 3,500,000 acres. On the southwestern side the rock is rich 
in phosphate and large quantities are now being mined. The topog- 
raphy is beautifully rolling, with hills from 50 to 150 feet above the 
adjoining valleys. The region is agriculturally rich, well watered, 
and natural legume and blMe-grass land. The development is high 
and, except for a few large estates, the land is held in small farms. 

The Tennessee River, after traversing northern Alabama, rather 
curiously flows across the State almost exactly from south to north, 
emptying into the Ohio River and cutting off to the west about one- 
fourth of Tennessee. This region is known as the West Tennessee 
Plateau and bottom lands. It contains two distinct topographic fea- 
tures — the rolling, broken-up lands between the Tennessee and Mis- 
sissippi Rivers and the stream bottoms. The uplands reach elevations 
of 613 feet, and average from 200 to 400 feet above the streams. The 
bottom lands are usually often subject to overflow, since the smaller 
streams are only slightly higher than the main river channels and 
have shallow, tortuous channels. The bottom lands are relatively 
small in area but large in agricultural importance. The Tennessee 
River Valley in west Tennessee contains about 750,000 acres, practi- 
cally all under cultivation, and the Mississippi Valley about 650,000 
acres, considerable of which is yet to be reclaimed, still being covered 
with dense vegetation and spotted with lakes and marshes. These 
lands are, of course, extremely fertile and project opportunities no 
doubt exist in this region, especially of moderate size. 



86 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

In large measure following the advice of the several Tennessee 
committees, surveys were confined to the Cumberland Plateau and 
the Highland Kim. The essential characteristics of soldier settle- 
ments in each of these regions would be similar and so only one 
opportunity will be described. 

The Mayland project. — The Mayland project is located in Cum- 
berland County, which is geographically the center of the Cumber- 
land Plateau. The largest town in the area is Mayland, with a 
population of 200, while Crossville, 14 miles distant, the county sear, 
has a population of 1,500. It is equally distant, being about 100 
miles from Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Nashville, three of the large 
industrial centers of the State. The Tennessee Central Kailroad, 
with one or two branch mining and logging roads, runs through the 
tract, and the Memphis to Bristol Highway is at present being 
graded through the project. 

The lay of the land is from level to gently undulating, very little 
being rough or rugged, with an average elevation of 1,800 feet above 
sea level. The soil is quite uniform, consisting of fine sandy loams 
with good retentive clay subsoils; corn, potatoes, clover, soy beans, 
vegetables, and when cared for, small berries can be grown. The 
backward condition of these lands is due to the fact that the people 
in this section have been trained in lumbering, and have been with- 
out agricultural experience and training. The native vegetation 
consists mostly of hardwoods, although in the soft woods black gum 
and poplar are found. 

The climate is unusually pleasant, the winters being neither long 
not serve and the summers not too hot. The mean summer tem- 
perature is about 71° with a maximum of 97°, and the mean winter 
temperature is 36°. The ordinary coldest winter day is but little 
below zero. Killing frosts are not expected before October or after 
April, thus giving a growing season of between six and seven months. 
The mean annual precipitation, which is well distributed, is reported 
to be 55 inches. The United States Bureau of Soils has made aio 
survey of Cumberland County itself, but in 1912 a survey was made 
of the Putnam County area to the northwest and in 1903 of the 
Pikeville area immediately south of the Mayville project. 

Water supply is obtained from the many creeks of pure water. 
For domestic purposes an abundant supply of excellent freestone 
water is obtained at a depth of from 30 to 60 feet. Artesian flow 
is found at 350 feet and deeper. 

In January, J. L. Napton, land examiner, investigated these lands 
and reports: 

I believe the possibilities are unlimited for a project, and an unlimited 
amount of land can be gotten all the way from 30,000 to 150,000 acres. The 
soil and contour conditions are uniform throughout the area. 

The land can be bought for an average price of from $10 to $15 
per acre. 

The reclamation work would consist of a little drainage, clearing, 
road building, and the addition to the soil of lime and phosphate, 
the latter is especially accentuated. The poverty of the land in 
this mineral constituent is the only reason for the present preva- 
lent idea that the soil of the Cumberland Plateau has little agri- 
cultural worth, and the consequent low land values. . 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 87 

REPORT OF SOLDIER SETTLEMENT BOARD OF TENNESSEE. 

The report on Tennessee, which was prepared by the Department of the 
Interior, United States Beclamation Service, through their consulting engineer, 
H. T. Cory, has been critically read and analyzed and, in the opinion of the 
committee, found to be very conservative. This report is approved in so far as it 
goes, but it is considered that many important facts and conditions that exist 
in Tennessee (making this State, and especially the Cumberland Plateau, admi- 
rabily suitable for soldier settlement projects), have not been stressed or fully 
explained. The committee has therefore prepared the following brief report, 
to be added as an appendix to Mr. H. T. Cory's report: 

CUMBERLAND PLATEAU. 

Climatic conditions. — The temperature is about 10° lower than the Middle 
Tennessee Basin, making living conditions from a climatic standpoint ideal. 
The rainfall is high and a long, dry season is the exception. A cooperative 
weather station of the United States Weather Bureau has been in operation 
for the last 22 years at Erasmus, Cumberlaud County, a post office about 3 
miles east of Clifty. The observer is Mrs. E. D. Ashley. The climatic condi- 
tions at this place are similar to the conditions that prevail on other parts of 
the Cumberland Plateau. 

Tbe following is a condensed table taken from the annual report of the 
Weather Bureau: 



88 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 






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DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 89 

Water supply — streams and wells. — The streams of the Cumberland Plateau 
drain into tributaries of the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. Many of 
these streams start at springs and their flow is supplemented throughout their 
course by the waters from additional springs. These springs are generally 
of freestone water, but occasionally a fine chalybeate water is found. The 
stream water is always a freestone water, without sediment, and would not 
need filtering. It is entirely suitable for all kinds of stock. 

The following is an analysis of stream water from Doe Creek, DeRossett, 
just across the Cumberland County line, in White County : 

Analyses. 
Incrusting solids : Gr. per gal. 

Iron and al. oxides 0. 133 

Silica 0. 377 

Calcium carbonate 

Calcium sulphate 

Calcium chloride 

Magnesium carbonate . 

Magnesium sulphate 1. 544 

Magnesium chloride 0. 490 

Total incrusting solids r 2. 544 

Nonincrusting solids : 

Sodium and potassium chloride 0. 106 

Sodium and potassium sulphate 

Sodium and potassium carbonate 

Sodium and potassium nitrate 

Total nonincrusting solids 0. 106 

Suspended matter 

Organic matter 

Total incrusting solids 2. 544 

Total solids 2. 650 

Analyzed by Baldwin Locomotive Co., 1906. 

The wells on the plateau obtain an unfailing supply of water from any of 
the thick sandstones that underlie the clay surface. As a rule water can be 
obtained in 40 feet, but sometimes it is necessary to go 100 feet in order to get 
a large quantity. In places where the rock structure is suitable artesian flows 
can be obtained at depths of approximately 150 feet and deeper. There is such 
a well in Cumberland County, 7 miles southeast of Crossville ; also in the 
northeast corner of Bledsoe County, and another to the south of Tracy City. 
The Tracy City well when drilled had a capacity of 200 gallons a minute. An 
analysis of the water from this well follows : 

Analysis. 
Incrusting solids : Gr. per gal. 

Iron and al. oxides 0. 023 

Silica 0.490 

Calcium carbonate 3. 959 

Calcium sulphate Trace. 

Calcium chloride 

Magnesium carbonate 1. 539 

Magnesium sulphate 

Magnesium chloride 

Total incrusting solids *6. 011 

Nonincrusting solids : 

Sodium chloride 6. 290 

Sodium sulphate 5. 290 

Sodium nitrate . 894 

Total nonincrusting solids 12. 474 

1 0.36 pounds per 1,000 gallons. 2 0.86 pound per 1,000 gallons. 



90 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

Gr. per gal. 

Loss on ignition (free C0 2 ) .203 

Organic matter 

Total incrusting solids 6. Oil 

Total solids 18. 688 

Analyzed by Dearborn Chemical Co. 

Wells at Monteagle also produce water for the town. The analysis is as 
follows : 

Analysis. 

WELL NO. 5. - 

Incrusting solids (no nonincrusting solids) : Gr. per gal. 

Iron and al. oxides , - 0. 16 

Silica— 1.08 

Calcium carbonate . 

Calcium sulphate 

Calcium chloride , 

Calcium oxide 0. 58 

Sulphate radicle (SOs) 1.00 

Magnesium carbonate 

Magnesium sulphate 

Magnesium chloride 

Magnesium oxide 0. 15 

Total incrusting solids 2. 97 

Loss on ignition (free C0 2 ) 0.75 



Total solids 2. 722 

Bacterial analysis of this well water is as follows : 

Total bacterial count on nutrient agar at room temperature, less than 20 per 
cubic centimeter. 

Total bacterial count on nutrient agar at blood temperature, less than 20 per 
cubic centimeter. 

Gas-forming bacteria on lactose bile, none. 

Acid colonies on lactose litmus agar, none. 

Indol reaction for B. coli, negative. 

(Sample gathered Nov. 12, 1917.) 

There is an abundance of water for all purposes for any size colony desired. 

Fuel, coal, and hydroelectric power. — Fuel is available for all purposes. Coal 
is mined at numerous places on the plateau, and can be obtained cheaper in 
this section than any other section of the United States. 

An analysis of a coking-coal mine at Rockwood, 40 miles distant, follows : 

Analysis. 1 

Moisture 1. !• 

Volatile matter 29. 3 

Fixed carbon 60. 1 

Ash 8.9 

Sulphur -.53 

British thermal units 13. 740 

An analysis of coal from the Monterey branch of the Tennessee Central Rail- 
road mined at Highland, Tenn., about 30 miles distant, is as follows: 

Analysis. 1 

Moisture - 3. 

Volatile matter 37. 3 

Fixed carbon 50. 2 

Ash 9. 5 

Sulphur 2. 76 

British thermal units 13. 190 

1 Bull. 621-P, U. S. Gaol. Survey, 1916. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 91 

Wood sufficient for burning in fireplaces and in cooking stoves is available 
and can be bought cheaply. 

Hydroelectric power can be generated by several of the near-by streams if 
such installations are desired, or a branch line could be built from the main line 
of the Tennessee Power Co. where it crosses the plateau in Van Buren County, 
or from Sparta. 

Labor.— Sufficient labor at reasonable rates can be secured for any work 
necessary to be done by outside parties. On the plateau common labor is now 
paid from $2 to $2.50 a day. 

Railroad facilities and markets.— The main line of both the Nashville, Chat- 
tanooga & St. Louis Railway and the Tennessee Central Railroad crosses the 
Cumberland Plateau, the former in the southern part of the State, the latter 
farther north. Branch lines of both of these roads extend up and down the 
plateau making a large acreage of plateau lands contiguous to the railroad 
transportation. The Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway is a part of 
the Louisville & Nashville system and its main line is the important connecting 
link in the through traffic line extending from Seattle, Wash., to Jacksonville, 
Ma., which was recently opened by the completion of the bridge across the 
Ohio River at Paducah, Ky. It is also a part of the through freight line from 
Chicago, 111., to Jacksonville, Fla. 

The Tennessee Central Railroad connects with the Southern Railway at Har- 
riman, Tenn., and with the Illinois Central at Hopkinsville, Ky., and has freight 
hauling agreements with these two systems which permit economical and satis- 
factory handling of products originating in their territory. 

These two railroads and their connections assure an efficient and satisfactory 
handling of all passenger and freight service which they may originate. 

The Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway and the Tennessee Central 
Railroad and their connections will reach the packing-house centers of Nash- 
ville, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Chicago ; the grain and milling centers of 
Nashville and Chattanooga ; the tobacco centers of Louisville and Lexington, 
Ky., and Clarksville, Tenn. ; the produce centers of Chicago, Nashville, New 
Orleans, Savannah, and Florida points. 

Natural resources of the plateau.— From a colony standpoint the natural re- 
sources of interest on the plateau are as follows : 

Timber for all building purposes. The timber consists of oak (white, red, 
black, chestnut, scarlet, Spanish, post, and blackjack), hickory, yellow poplar, 
Dlackgum, chestnut, maples, and hemlock. The majority of the stand is oak. 

Coal as previously mentioned is nearby and available, but none is now being- 
mined on the property that has been examined for soldier settlements. 

Clay and shale suitable for manufacture of brick and tile occur at many 
places on the plateau. 

A large limestone quarry is located at Crab Orchard, Cumberland County, 
which limestone is well suited for both road metal or agricultural lime when 
sufficiently pulverized. This limestone analyses over 95 per cent calcium car- 
bonate and many of the layers show an analysis of 99 per cent calcium car- 
bonate. 

Building materials, road materials, and fuel are all near at hand and can be 
obtained cheaply and in large quantities that insure cheap prices for all con- 
struction work. 

Natural resources adjacent to project examined. — The different natural prod- 
ucts necessary for the success of a colonization project all occur in Tennessee 
in close proximity to the Cumberland Plateau. 

Large deposits of phosphate rock occur in middle Tennessee in 150 miles of 
the plateau. This rock, which analyses as high as 80 per cent Ca 3 (P0 4 h, can 
oe bought as raw ground phosphate or as acid phosphate from the large fer- 
tilizer companies in Nashville, Tenn. 

Two large cement plants are located in Tennessee, one at the foot of the 
•Cumberland Plateau at Richard City on the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. 
Louis Railway ; the other at Kingsport, Tenn., on the Southern Railway. Both 
plants can ship direct to the proposed project. 

Coal and coke have already been mentioned. There were over 7,000,000 
tons of coal mined in 1918 in Tennessee and large quantities of coke were 
produced. Pig iron is made at the foot of the plateau at Rockwood in Cum- 
berland County, adjoining. The iron ore and coal are both mined in several 
miles of the furnace. There are 24 iron furnaces in Tennessee. The manu- 
facture of iron in Tennessee guarantees cheap iron products, such as farming 
implements, for any project. 



92 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

Products that can be grown on suggested project when lime and phosphate 
are used.— At the present time the following products are being successfully 
grown on the plateau-: Corn, grass and clover for hay, Irish potatoes, oats, 
soy beans, cowpeas, navy beans, sorghum, the common garden crops, such as 
cabbage, onions, and beets, and both large and small fruits of various kinds. 
Cattle and hogs are raised extensively. Some details of the agricultural 
value of this area are given in the report by the agronomist of the agricultural 
experiment station of the University of Tennessee. Mr. C. A. Mooers has had 
charge of the station's experimental work conducted in Cumberland County 
for the past 12 years. 

Products note manufactured in Tennessee and available for colony use. — 
The essential manufactured products that are used by farmers should be 
produced nearby if they are to be obtained at the least cost. The following 
products necessary for a colony are manufactured in Tennessee within 150 
miles of the plateau: Flour, cornmeal, cotton goods (especially overalls and 
socks), woolen goods, packing-house products, tobacco products, coffee, canned 
vegetables and fruits, sorghum, farm implements, harness, wagons, stoves, 
and tinware, fertilizer, cement, brick, lime, drainage tiles and sewer pipes, 
sashes, doors, and blinds, hardware, and shoes. In the east many families 
on the Cumberland Plateau produced everything they needed with the ex- 
ception of salt and coffee. This is not possible now, but Tennessee settlers 
can now get practically every necessity they need from some Tennessee manu- 
facturing plant. This means cheaper living conditions. 

Comparative cost of development. — The initial cost of Cumberland Plateau 
land ($10 to $15 an acre) plus the cost of reclaiming, makes a total cost 
much less than the remaining Government land can be reclaimed for. The 
Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway has cleared several areas on the 
plateau for demonstration farms and the cost of clenring this land completely 
and preparing for the first crop has been, according to Mr. Joe Judd, who 
had charge of the work, from $30 to $40 an acre. There are no fixed charges 
for water. Instead abundant water of the finest quality is available without 
cost. The building of improvements on unimproved land anywhere else in the 
United States would be much more expensive than in Tennessee, for in 
Tennessee all structural and road materials are near at hand and sufficient 
lumber is actually on the project that has been reported on; while in other 
sections some or all of the structural road materials have to be hauled to 
the project from a distant point, and these freight charges have to be borne 
by the project. 

The central location of this project in respect to the markets of the United 
States will assure its financial success in the selling of its products at the 
top market price. 

Tennessee Soldier Settlement Board, 
Win R. Manin, Chairman, 
Wilbur A. Nelson, Secretary. 

TEXAS. 

Gov. W. P. Hobby appointed a committee of five to represent 
Texas in the soldier settlement matter consisting of: Stewart E. 
Smith, chairman, Beaumont; R. H. Spencer, secretary, Houston; 
Senator A. C. Buchanan, Temple; Senator F. M. Gibson, Bonham; 
and J. H. Haile, vice chairman, San Antonio. 

In addition the chambers of commerce in Beaumont, Houston, 
San Antonio, and Waco appointed committees which rendered great 
and deeply appreciated assistance in the investigations throughout 
the respective contiguous regions. 

The total area figures for Texas are : 

Acros 

Land 167, 935, 000 

In crop 25, 340, 000 

Unimproved 85, 000, 000 

Merchantable timber 4, 000, 000 

Cutover land 12, 000, 000 

Swamp land 1, 240, 000 

Wet grazing land 1,000,000 

Total number of farms, 450,000. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 93 

Texas is such a large State and has such a variety of soil, eleva- 
tion, and climate that proportional figures have no significance. 
Even with but a little more than one-eighth the land area in crop 
last year (nevertheless) such figure is greater than for any State 
in the Union, and more than twice that for any in the southern dis- 
trict except Oklahoma, and the margin here is very small. Simi- 
larly the 2,240,000 acres of wet land is almost as large as that in 
North Carolina, or in Wisconsin, or in Michigan. 

There are many opportunities for soldier settlement colonies of 
several types, so that the first step is selection of the type or types 
of project. This in turn requires a definite information as to the 
physiography and climate conditions of the State as a whole. 

In the first place 100-foot contour extends back from the Gulf 
coast much as in the Atlantic coastal States. The distance increases 
from the southern tip, around toward Louisiana, varying from 25 
to 100 miles. A considerable part of this strip averaging 30 miles 
wide, contains almost all the wet lands in the State. 

The 500-foot contour passes through San Antonio, Austin, Cor- 
sicana, Terrell, and Paris. Between it and the 100-foot contour 
there is an area almost as large as South Carolina. 

The Rocky Mountain Plateau extends into the western end so 
that the 2,000-foot contour runs along the dividing line between 
Oklahoma and Texas and extends almost due south through Big 
Spring to about 75 miles northwest of San Antonio, and then turns 
sharply west to the Rio Grande near the mouth of the Pecos. The 
northwest corner is nearly 5,000 feet above sea level, the western- 
most tip — El Paso — nearly 4,000 feet, while a spur of the Rocky 
Mountain system extends down between the Pecos and the Rio 
Grande with peaks reaching to a maximum of 9,020 feet. 

The mean elevation of Texas is 1,700 feet, or 200 feet more than 
West Virginia and 400 feet greater than Oklahoma. 

Such topographical features in connection with the Gulf of Mexico 
produce wide precipitation differences The southeast corner has 
50 inches of rainfall, the southern tip — Brownsville — about 22 inches, 
El Paso 10 inches, the northwestern corner 18 inches, and the north- 
eastern corner, Texarkana, 45 inches. 

Thus it is that in the western quarter of the State — west of the one 
hundred and second meridian — and along the Rio Grande River, clear 
to the gulf, only irrigation colonies could be considered ; next to the 
east, cattle ranching; next east of this, general agriculture based upon 
live stock and cotton; along the eastern edge, cut-over land projects 
for diversified farming, and along the coast as far west as the Colo- 
rado River, wet-land projects for general farming and trucking. The 
long and particularly early growing season of the low-lying lands in 
the southern tip is peculiarly favorable for trucking. 

Areas of large land holdings which facilitate the blocking up of 
project opportunities are scattered all over the State. 

In the face of these considerations, the final selection of a project 
or projects will depend upon the money available and, to a consid- 
erable extent, the recommendations of the Texas soldier-settlement 
committee. For this reason three of the many possible project op- 
portunities will be described, selectc d solely as being fairly typical 
of the soldier-settlement project opportunities which the State offers. 



94 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

The Medina project.— The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce 
suggests the advantages of taking over the stranded Medina proj- 
ects — one of the late Dr. Pearson's enterprises. This project is lo- 
cated about 25 miles west of San Antonio and consists of 50,000 acres 
in a solid block, together with an almost completed comprehensive, 
high-class irrigation system, including an artificial storage reservoir 
of 252,000 acre-feet capacity. The enterprise has proven a disastrous 
financial failure, chiefly because three years out of five good crops 
can be raised without irrigation. For the past five years everything 
has been tied up in litigation. The bondholders are almost entirely 
strong Scottish and Canadian interests and it is suggested they would 
probably turn over the whole property for but a fraction of its cost 
or join with the Federal Government on any at all reasonable basis in 
making all the land a soldier settlement. 

If advantageous terms were offered by the owners, the}^ would 
merit consideration. A very little time, and relatively small addi- 
tional expense, would be required to make all the land into going- 
concern farms — doubtless, considerably less time than any other sol- 
dier-settlement project in the entire Nation. The final cost to the 
soldier settlers would be low, both actually and in comparison with 
the net earnings per first cost of allotments — that is, with any offer- 
ings of owners low enough to be seriously considered. Unless the 
State of Texas or the Federal Government does something of the 
kind the project will be a seriously deterrent influence against irri- 
gation in similar territory of the State, whereas the advantages of 
artificial watering are hereabouts real. The location with respect to 
transportation and a large city — San Antonio now has a population 
of 225,000— is excellent. 

About the only serious objection is that relatively little soldier 
labor would be employed in preparing the going-concern farm homes 
for soldiers. 

Referring now to the essential details of the project, it is located 
in Medina, Bexar, and Atascosca Counties, from 13 to 30 miles from 
San Antonio, and is traversed by the main lines of the Southern 
Pacific and the International & Great Northern railroads. The 
towns of Macedonia, La Coste, Lytle, Natalia, and Devine are on 
these lines. 

Most of the land is undulating to rolling, some is level, and some 
little almost rough. The entire elevation is above that of San An- 
tonio, which is 650 feet above sea level. As a rule, the soils are sandy 
loams, some reddish but mostly black, with a splendid subsoil. In 
1904 the United States Bureau of Soils made a survey of the San 
Antonio area which includes this region. 

The mean annual temperature is 69.4°, with a maximum of 108° 
and a minimum of 14°. The average date of the first killing frost is 
November 19 and of the last March 10, giving a growing season of 
over eight months. The annual precipitation varies greatly, but 
the mean is reported at 28 inches. The whole region is semiarid. 

No overtures have been made by the owners, so the price for either 
the project as it stands or on a net acreage basis can not be given. 

Reclamation would be deferred maintenance upon the main canals 
and laterals, completing the sublaterals, constructing some drainage, 
a little clearing, land leveling, road building, preparation of seed 
beds, and planting crops. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 95 

The cost of going-concern farms would be about $125 an acre. 

Houston project. — The second project to be described is the Hous- 
ton project, located in Harris County, from 10 to 30 miles from 
Houston — a city of 170,000 people. This area is traversed by four 
railroads — the International & Great Northern, the Houston' & 
Texas Central, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, and the Trinity & 
Brazos Valley railroads. No part of the land is more than 4 or 5 
aiiles from a railroad station. Excellent macadamized roads lead 
out in all directions from Houston. 

The land surface is from level to gently rolling, at an elevation of 
from 75 to 150 feet above sea level. The soil is a dark sandy loam with 
a red to yellow clay subsoil. The principal crops are cotton, corn, 
potatoes, peanuts, and vegetables. There is practically no timber 
on the land. The poultry and dairying industries are very profitable 
in this locality. The United States Bureau of Soils has made no 
survey of Harris County, but surveys were made of Lavoca County 
(1905), the Brazoria area (1902), and Washington County (1913). 

This area is under the Gulf breeze which tempers the heat of the 
summer. The mean annual temperature is 68.8°, with a maximum 
of 108° and a minimum of 6°. The average date of the first killing 
frost is November 25 and of the last February 20, thus giving a long- 
growing season of 278 days. The mean annual precipitation is about 
48 inches and is generally well distributed. 

An abundant quantity of fine soft water is found at a depth of 
from 25 to 50 feet. Artesian flow is found at a depth of from 400 to 
1,500 feet. 

This land has been offered in large tracts at an average price of 
$30 per acre. 

The reclamation work would consist of drainage, clearing, addi- 
tion to the soil of lime and phosphate, and road building. A going- 
concern farm would cost not more than $100 per acre, of $10,000,000 
for a 100,000-acre colony. 

Neohes project. — The third project opportunity to be described, 
the Neches project, is located in Orange and Jasper Counties, on 
the east bank of the Neches River, about 13 miles from the city of 
Beaumont, a place with a population of 40,000. This city has six 
railroads, but two of which actually cross our tract — the Galveston, 
Beaumont & Northeastern and the Kansas City Southern Railroads. 

The topography is from level to gently rolling, with an elevation 
of 15 feet and more above sea level. The soil is a sandy loam averag- 
ing about 10 inches deep and underlain by red clay subsoil that 
varies to yellow. The usual " piney-land " crops are grown, and the 
timber consists of both long and short leaf pine, gum, oak, hickory, 
beech, ash, and some cypress. No surveys have been made of this 
area by the United States Bureau of Soils, but in 1903 such a survey 
was made of the Woodville area and in 1913 of the Jefferson County 
area. 

The climate is humid. The temperature varies from 20° to some- 
thing over 100°. Killing frosts are probable from November to 
March, which gives a long growing season of about eight months. 
The mean annual precipitation is about 60 inches and is particularly 
unseasonable. 

This land in very large tracts has been offered at a price of $12.50 
per acre. 



96 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

The reclamation work would consist of extensive drainage, clear- 
ing, mosquito prevention, road building, and the addition to the soil 
of lime, phosphate, and nitrate of soda. 

The cost per acre of a " going-concern farm " would be not more 
than $100 per acre. 



Beaumont, Tex., May 21, 1919. 
Hod. Franklin K. Lane, 

Secretary of Interior. 

Dear Sir : The Soldiers' Settlement Board of Texas, appointed by the gov- 
ernor of Texas for the purpose, among other things connected with the activi- 
ties of this State in such matters, to represent the State in cooperating with 
the Federal Government in the soldiers' settlement program, has assembled 
and conferred since receiving the report of your department proposed to be 
laid before Congress with reference particularly to Texas, and we have to 
report that it is the sense of this board that we have carefully considered the 
draft of the proposed report by your department and have become advised as 
far as possible as to the correctness of the statements therein, and we approve 
and indorse said report in its entirety except the portions thereof under the 
head respectively of the " Medina project," " Houston project " and " Neches 
project." 

In so far as such projects are specifically mentioned for the purpose of show- 
ing that there are concrete propositions ready to be handled and to show a 
variety of selection by giving the general characteristics of the projects merely 
as illustrations of what can be procured in our State, we indorse the mention- 
ing of the specific projects, but we think some of the statements made with 
reference to each of them have the effect of instituting comparisons on the 
merits of the projects, and to this extent we do not agree with this part of 
the report, and we think that no such comparisons should be insituted, directly 
or indirectly, with reference to any projects prior to the appropriation by Con- 
gress and the lodging of the duty of selection with proper authorities desig- 
nated for that purpose. We are advised that there are other projects in each 
of the vicinities mentioned where the specific projects named are located with 
similar merits and surrounded by similar conditions, affording variety for 
selection in each vicinity. Besides, there are other portions of Texas not men- 
tioned where may be found suitable selections and some which have charac- 
teristics which might appeal to the taste and judgment of individual pur- 
chasers more strongly than any of the projects specifically named in the report. 

Our belief is that it will probably be found to the best interest of the pur- 
chasing class, as well as to our State at large, that there should be projects 
located in at least four general sections of the State where lands are avail- 
able in bodies as required; viz, northeast Texas (the Texarkana section), south- 
east Texas (the Houston and Beaumont sections), south central Texas (the 
San Antonio section), and west Texas. Then there are marsh-land projects 
which we think will be found feasible, and which have been on some parts of 
the coast already demonstrated to be feasible. 

The point made by our board is that these things should be left, as largely 
as possible, to the consideration of the properly constituted authorities after 
the appropriations have been made and the general plan erected by Congress 
and worked out by your department. 

We also wish unqualifiedly to indorse the bill, preliminary plan of which is 
in our hands, prepared by Mr. Mondell, and which is to be introduced at this 
session of Congress, and to earnestly urge its speedy passage. 

Respectfully submitted. 

Soldiers' Settlement Board of Texas, 
By Stuart R. Smith, Chairman. 



VIRGINIA. 



The committee representing the Commonwealth of Virginia in the 
soldier settlement matter as appointed by Gov. J. Westmoreland 
Davis consists of T. W. Carrington, chairman, Eichmond; John C. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 97 

Easley, secretary, Richmond; Oliver J. Sands, Richmond; I. Walke 
Truxton, Norfolk; Tench F. Tilghman, Norfolk; A. B. Schwarz- 
kopf, Norfolk; Walter Edward Harris, Petersburg; D. S. Jones, 
Newport News; Lee Long, Cante; J. William Ridle}^, Courtland; 
J. E. Nottingham, jr., Franktown; A. T. Moore, Staunton; A. E. An- 
derson, Bristol; John F. Kolar, Disputanta; and W. P. Warren, 
Bacons Castle. 

The total area figures for Virginia are: 

Acres. 

Land 25, 768, 000 

In crop 5, 577, 000 

Unimproved in farms 10, 000, 000 

Merchantable timber 4, 850, 000 

Cut-over land : 10, 000, 000 

Swamp land : 600, 000 

Overflow land 200, 000 

Number of farms, 195,000. 

That is to say that the amount of wet land is relatively small in 
spite of the famous Dismal Swamp being in considerable part of Vir- 
ginia; two-fifths is cut-over land and but a little over one-fifth in 
crop last year. This small proportion of cultivated land is par- 
ticularly interesting in view of the fact that the history of the 
United States begins with the landing of Capt. Christopher Newport 
and his little band of colonists at Jamestown, Va., May 13, 1607, and 
that from that day to this the Old Dominion has left its work on 
every page of American history. 

Virginia consists of five physiographic divisions — tidewater Vir- 
ginia, middle Virginia, Piedmont region, Valley of Virginia, and 
southwest Virginia or Appalachia, The first consists of the level 
lands along the Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay coasts and the broad 
estuaries of the rivers emptying into the ocean and bay. Roughly 
speaking it is the region east of a north and south line through Rich- 
mond and includes the two countries south of the Eastern Shore of 
Maryland and east of Chesapeake Bay. Middle Virginia is the 
strip next in land running clear across the State and generally speak- 
ing lies between the 150 and 500 foot contours. It varies from 25 
to 100 miles in width. The Piedmont region extends from middle 
Virginia to the Blue Ridge and consists of a diversified country with 
considerable areas of level land in some parts and in others it is roll- 
ing or broken by spurs from the Blue Ridge into alternate mountain 
ranges and valleys. 

The Valley of Virginia lies between the Blue Ridge and the Shen- 
andoah and North Mountain Range of the Alleghanies and is wa- 
tered by the Shenandoah River system. Its agricultural adaptation 
is strikingly similar to that of the Piedmont region. Southwest Vir- 
ginia or Appalachia is the mountainous coal and mineral section of 
the Old Dominion, but its maney valleys, hills, and mountain sides 
are usually covered with fertile soil. The live-stock industry pre- 
dominates and sheep raising is increasing rapidly. 

Because of such a large proportion of agriculturally undeveloped 
land, variety of physiographic features, and large industrial centers, 
there is an embarrassing wealth of project opportunities for soldier 
settlements. Draining and reclaiming the world-famed Dismal 
Swamp perhaps first suggests itself. Possibly next comes to mind 
141901— H. Doe. 202, 66-1 7 



98 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

the appeal of blue-grass Appalachia for cattle-breeding and sheep- 
raising colonies such as suggested in southeastern Kentucky and 
West Virginia. The Virginia Piedmont and the Shenandoah follow 
in the minds of almost every American, and there are no doubt at- 
tractive project opportunities scattered over these. 

As a matter of fact, the Virginia soldier-settlement committee was 
appointed too late — February, 1919 — to cooperate in the preliminary 
investigations, and these were largely confined to middle Virginia. 
Here the project opportunities are of the " abandoned-land " type, 
duplicating quite closely those described in Maryland. 

It is often said the South lost its vision at Appomattox, but it is 
truer that it lost its agricultural man power in the war. Throughout 
the wonderful middle Virginia most of the land was sold for taxes 
and nearly all " went back." Before the region began to recover, the 
trend of the city caught it. Not a few cross currents came into play. 
The final result is that the naturally fertile but " worn out " and 
" abandoned " middle Virginia can be gathered together in large 
blocks, and close to Richmond, for an average price of less than $25 
an acre. Of such land there is an area of at least 2,000,000 acres, a 
considerable part of which has been examined in a preliminary way. 
In the Piedmont and middle Virginia there are 10,000,000 acres of 
idle farm land. 

Amelia project. — As a concrete example of a middle Virginia sol- 
dier settlement, and quite a typical one, the Amelia project will be 
described. It is located 30 miles southwest of Richmond, in Chester- 
field and Amelia Counties, between the main lines of the Southern 
and the Norfolk & Western Railroads. No land is over 12 miles 
from a railroad. 

The elevation varies from 200 to 350 feet above sea level. The 
principal streams which cross middle Virginia generally flow north- 
west to southeast, so that the country is a succession of ridges and 
valleys affording excellent natural drainage. The valleys are often 
narrow and fairly deep, but the ridges are not very prominent and 
usually broad gently rolling table-land. The soil is that of the 
coastal plain, light sandy loams. Corn, wheat, oats, peanuts, and 
tobacco are principally grown. In 1901 the United States Bureau of 
Soils made a survey of the Prince Edward area, adjoining portions 
of Chesterfield and Amelia Counties, and in 1906 such a survey was 
made of Chesterfield County itself. 

The climate is desirable and healthful, and quite well suited to 
agriculture. Summers and winters are both comparatively mild, 
with a mean temperature of about 74° and 40°, respectively, a maxi- 
mum of 102° and minimum of 3° below zero. The first killing frost 
usually occurs around November 1, and the last one about April 2, 
giving a long growing season of about seven months. The mean 
annual precipitation is between 42 and 47 inches. 

There are a large number of interests represented in this area and 
the tracts are of varying size, but a colony of 100,000 acres could 
easily be gotten together at an average price of $20 per acre. 

The reclamation work would consist of a little drainage, clearing, 
road building, addition to the soil of lime and some potash, planting 
of legumes to increase nitrogen, and soil rebuilding generally. " Go- 
ing-concern farms " could be had at an outside cost of $125 per acre, 
or $10,000,000 for an 80,000-acre farm. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



99 



Splendid demonstrations of the region's adaption to agricultural 
pursuits may be seen in the farms here and there, generally " brought 
back " by newcomers from the Middle West. 

Present conditions of the State of Virginia, in reference to farm- 
ing, submitted by the committee appointed by Gov. J. Westmoreland 
Davis on the matter of the soldiers' settlement : 

The statistical status of our State as to total land is as follows : Acres. 

Land : 25, 768, 000 

In crop 5, 577, 000 

Unimproved in farms— 10,000,000 

Merchantable timber 4,850, 000 

Cut-over land 10, 000, 000 

Swamp land 600,000 

Overflow land - 200, 000 

Number of farms, 195,000. 

Its agricultural, trucking, forest, and mineral production in 1917, as com- 
pared with 1912, is as follows : 



Corn — 

Wheat. . 
Tobacco. 



Potatoes 

Peanuts 

Apples 

Other products. 



Total. 

In 1917: 

Horses, hogs, cattle. 

Forest products 

Trucking 

Poultry and eggs. . . 



Total. 



Increase, 
1912tol917, 



Per cnit. 
25 

8 
10 
20 
10 

4 
35 



Value. 



$150, 000, 000 
36,000,000 
40, 000, 000 
30, 000, 000 
20, 000, 000 
11,000,000 
10, 000, 000 
10, 000, 000 



307, 000, 000 

32, 000, 000 
35, 000, 000 
15, 000, 000 
13, 000, 000 



402, 000, 000 



It is further shown by the above comparative statement that in previous 
years the value and improvement in farming in the State has been most 
pronounced. Up to 1912, without any more land being cultivated or any more 
laborers being employed, the value in round numbers of the crops, farm dwell- 
ings, and barns, had increased during the past 10 years prior to 1912 over 
100 per cent. This shows most conclusively the great opportunities that await 
the intelligent farmers in our State. 

This State is divided into five physiographic parts : 

1. The tidewater section, extending along the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic 
Ocean up into the stretches of the Potomac, York, and James Rivers and their 
tributaries. This country is particularly adapted to trucking, and its fish and 
oyster industries are of tremendous value. In addition to trucking, the regular 
farming crops of corn, oats, peanuts, and wheat are raised. Wherever these 
sections are conveniently located as to transportation, the land values are well 
up and compare most favorably with the lands of other States similarly 
situated. 

2. The Valley of Virginia, which is particularly adapted to wheat, corn, and 
cattle, and here is located the Virginia apple section, and the value of these 
lands is fully appreciated and but few if any farms are available. 

3. Southwest Virginia, taking in the great mineral part of our State, iron and 
coal, and also in this section cattle raising is done on a very large scale. This 
part of the country is better adapted to this industry than to homelike farming. 

4. The Piedmont region is that section of the country, as the name indicates, 
at the foot of the mountains, and is most adaptable to fruits, grain, and stock 
raising, and the value of these lands is well sustained and is not very easily 
available in very large quantities. 



100 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

5. Middle Virginia, practically most of which lies south of the Potomac 
River to the James, and a large section of the country south of James River to 
the North Carolina border, is where the great opportunity for development has 
been and still exists to the greatest extent. These lands were largely used, 
prior to the War Between the States, in production by the availability of 
numbers of farm laborers. The end of the Civil War found the land owners 
with large tracts with but few laborers to cultivate same, resulting in but a 
small percentage of this part of the country being put under cultivation. This 
part of the country, though, in these years of uncultivation, has produced a 
large growth of second-growth pine, which has not only preserved the land but 
has been a source of supply to lumber dealers and of revenue to the owners of 
many million feet of timber and many millions of dollars. This part of the 
country has demonstrated most wonderfully and decidedly the results of intelli- 
gent and intensive farming, and there is hardly a neighborhood in which there is 
not some forehanded farmer who has demonstrated in the most practicable 
manner that these lands can and do pay to farm. 

They need but intelligent fertilization for a year or two for the soil to be 
brought up to a remunerative state of production. From the viewpoint of 
many comforts of a home there is nowhere in the country that surpasses this 
part of Virginia. It has a mean temperature of 74^° and a maximum of 102° 
in particularly heated summers and rarely ever goes below zero itt the winter. 
The first killing frost occurs around November 1 and the last one about 
April 1, giving a long growing season, and there is scarcely a month in which 
plowing and cultivation can not be done. The mean annual precipitation is 
between 42 and 47 inches. This section of the State is particularly well 
watered, and especially on the south side of James River the drinking water 
is unsurpassed and the springs are both numerous and prodigal. There is 
hardly a known vegetable or fruit that can not be grown, and on every place 
there is sufficient firewood and timber for home consumption without hardly 
missing it. 

It is these lands, as compared to other values in other parrs of the State and 
as compared to values- in other States, certainly of North and South Carolina, 
that are cheap. The value of this property has increased gradually but most 
pronouncedly in the past 20 years, and few, if any, farms can be had now for 
less than $20 to $30 per acre, and then 'only where the property is really for 
sale. At the same time these values are exceedingly low as compared to other 
States. In this section no drainage of swamps and but in a small way will 
stump pulling be necessary. 

The leading crops produced are corn, wheat, oats, tobacco, peanuts, hay, 
especially alfalfa, and fruits of all kinds, the leading of which are apples, 
peaches, plums, pears, apricots, and berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, 
blackberries, etc. 

The soil varies from a sandy loam to a heavy clay, thus furnishing oppor- 
tunities for all kinds of farming and stock raising. 

Through this middle and south-side section of the country there are many 
tracts of land that are available. There is nowhere in the settled portion of 
the United States where larger tracts can be obtained at so reasonable prices, 
with sufficient number of railroads running through to always have a nearby 
depot or good roads to some closely situated city. 

The opportunity for our Government to work the plan now being considered 
to enable the soldier who wishes a farm to procure a real home, offering the 
most opportunities for the welfare of country life, is unsurpassed in this sec- 
tion of our State, and the committee in charge will loan every assistance to the 
Government's representatives in acquiring such land as may be best fitted for 
the purpose intended for its use ; that is, to give the soldier a good home with 
all the best surroundings of every kind. 

T. W. Carrington, Chairman. 

WEST VIRGINIA. , 

The preliminary investigations were made in this State prior to 
the appointment, April, 1919, by Gov. John J. Cornwell of a soldier- 
settlement committee consisting of: J. B. McLaughlin, Strange 
Creek; Merritt Wilson, Elkins; and Howard Gore, Clarksburg. 






DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 101 

The total area figures for West Virginia are: 

Acres. 

Land 15, 375, 000 

In crop 2, 350, 000 

Unimproved in farms 4, 500, 000 

Merchantable timber . 1, 400, 000 

Cut-over land 4, 650, 000 

Swamp land 

Overflow land 25, 000 

Total number of farms, 100,000. 

In spite of the State being largely mountainous, its agricultural 
development is quite high, hardly exceeded in any State of the 
Union. For instance, almost 80 per cent of the land is farmed by 
owners. 

With the exception of the two valleys, each containing less than 
15,000 acres, no diversified- farming project opportunities were un- 
covered; that is, of course, taking into account development, size 
of holdings, price of land, etc. Indeed, probably more farms are 
too small than too large, considered from a diversified- agriculture 
point of view. In any event, the delimitation of rural settlements 
was, generally speaking, made by nature in the form of topography — 
natural lines of communications and barriers or community bound- 
aries. There are also practically no wet lands, but there are 2,500,000 
acres of cut-over and mountainous land held in tracts larger than 
10,000 acres and up to 140,000 acres. Most of these large holdings 
were collected for timber, coal, and oil, and the surfaces of many 
are quite idle. 

The surface rights of these lands can be secured at from $2.50 to 
$4 per acre. The smaller part, but nevertheless a large total, is in 
limestone and blue-grass regions, and the conditions are favorable 
for cattle-breeding colonies like those described in southeastern 
Kentucky. Indeed, southwestern Virginia, southeastern Kentucky, 
and southwestern West Virginia are essentially one mountainous 
area. 

Taking into account the interspersed holdings of less than 10,000 
acres which could be blocked up with the larger tracts, there are 
easily 500,000 acres from which to choose a project or projects fea- 
turing live-stock production — " horseback farming " with a minimum 
of cultivation to furnish winter feed. 

It is rather futile to outline any really definite project or decide 
upon preparing two or more until the amount of money allotted 
for West Virginia be known. The map indicates the general area 
within which the most attractive opportunities will probably be 
found. 

This southwestern portion of the State has most excellent water 
and railway transportation facilities. The Chesapeake & Ohio 
Railroad, double tracked, c6nnects with eastern, western, and 
northern points; the Baltimore & Ohio runs to northern markets; 
the Norfolk & Western connects with southern points; and branch 
lines of all of these roads are scattered throughout the region. Water 
transportation is chiefly on the Ohio River. Huntington, with a 
population of 31,164 (1910 census), is the principal city. 



102 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

In 1913 a survey was made of Boone, Logan, and Mingo Counties 
by the United States Bureau of Soils, and in 1911 such a survey 
was made of the Huntington area, including Cabell, Lincoln, and 
Wayne Counties. According to these surveys, the soils divide them- 
selves into three general groups — uplands, where the soil is residual ; 
terrace, with old alluvial soil; and first bottoms, of recent alluvial 
soil. These are all silt or sandy loams. The principal crops are 
corn, tobacco, wheat, oats, hay, and potatoes. A great deal of this 
land is in forests, but most of it has been cut over. Lumber is 
easily rafted down the rivers to markets. 

The land surface is decidedly rough and broken and the bottom 
lands quite narrow. The elevation in the southern portion is from 
500 to 1,500 feet, and farther toward the north from 1,000 to 1,800 
feet above sea level. The extremes are from 490 to a maximum of 
3,300 feet. The general drainage is into the Ohio, the Coal, the 
Little Coal, and the Guyandot Rivers. 

The climate is an agreeable one, with short, hot summers and 
cold, open winters. Temperatures above 100° and below zero are 
rare, the mean summer temperature being about 74° with a maxi- 
mum of 102°, and the mean winter temperature about 35° with a 
minimum of 26° below zero. The first killing frost is not expected 
before September 18 or 20 or after April 15 or 20, thus giving a 
growing season of about six months. The mean annual precipita- 
tion is from 37 to about 47 inches and is distributed in such a way 
as to be most beneficial to growing crop — that is, heaviest during 
the growing season and lightest during the harvesting season. In 
general, the climate is exceedingly well adapted to diversified farm- 
ing, stock raising, and dairying. 

Surface rights on this land could be purchased for from $2.50 to 
$4.50 per acre. 

The reclamation work would consist largely of some drainage, 
clearing, preparation of seed beds, road building, pasturage, improve- 
ment, etc. 

The cost per acre of a "going-concern farm" would, in this re- 
gion, be about $80, which is two-thirds as great as in cut-over land 
and drainage projects in the other States. A larger portion of the 
investment would be in live stock. One hundred and twenty-five 
thousand acres of such a farm would, therefore, cost not more than 
$10,000,000. 

May 15, 1919. 
H. T. Cory, 

Consulting Engineer, United States Reclamation Service, 

Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir: At the request of the Hon. John J. Corn well, governor of West 
Virginia, we are inclosing a brief statement about farming conditions and op- 
portunities in this State, based on our personal observation and knowledge and 
on the advice of the director of extension and professor of farm management at 
the college of agriculture, with whom we conferred. 

We are also stating our opinions relative to the kind and amount of Govern- 
ment aid that should be given to returning soldiers as aids to them in settling 
on the land. 

Our report is necessarily a preliminary one, based on general information. 
We shall be glad to supplement it later with answers to any questions suggested 
by Members of Congress, or members of our committee will be glad to appear 
before congressional committees that may be having hearings on this question. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 103 

Trusting that our information will be of service in presenting to Congress the 
needs of the returning soldiers, 
Very truly, yours, 

J. B. McLaughlin, Strange Creek, W. Va., 
Meeeitt D. Wilson, Elkins, W. Va., 
Howaed M. Goee, Clarksburg, W. Va., 

Committee. 
Nat T. Feame, Morgantotvn, 

Director Agricultural Extension. 
A. J. Dadisman, Morgan-town, 

Professor Farm Management . 



Report on Soldier Settlement — Opportunities and Needs in West Virginia. 

(a) Agricultural sections of West Virginia. — The eastern panhandle, includ- 
ing the Shenandoah, Potomac, and South Branch Valleys. Apple and peach 
orchards, grain farming, dairying, and cattle raising are the prevailing types 
of farming. In the eastern panhandle large orchard companies and individual 
growers employ many farm laborers, especially in picking season. Grain farm- 
ing is done in part by tenants on a share rental. Capitalists find frequent op- 
portunities for investments in orchards. Tenants who have acquired a few 
thousand dollars of capital are constantly becoming farm owners. 

(&) The Appalachian Plateau. — The grazing of beef cattle and sheep, the 
production of crops including potatoes and buckwheat, together with large* 
areas of forests and cut-over lands, typify this section. In the Appalachian 
Plateau cattle and sheep grazed in the mountain pastures are brought down to 
the valley farms for wintering, sometimes a distance of several miles. Lumber- 
ing still offers opportunities for winter work. Settlements by farmers in cut- 
over timberlands have been retarded because such lands have been held in large 
boundaries. 

(c) Central blue-grass region. — The production of beef cattle and sheep is 
the dominant type of farming. In the central blue-grass section the small areas 
of level land in ridges and in bottoms are intensively cropped for winter feed 
to carry the live stock for grazing the hillside pastures. Most farmers own 
and operate their own farms. Many farmers receive oil and gas royalties. 

(d) Ohio Valley.— Dairying, market gardening, and general farming, in- 
chiding live stock, are practiced. In the Ohio Valley the farming is more 
varied in type, with some tenantry, some hired farm managers, some large 
bottom-land farms under personal management. 

(e) Southern Coal Fields Region. — Intensive farming is done to supply 
local markets, and cattle are grazed in lands farther back. In the coal-ianas 
section the attractions of the industries and " public works " and the owner- 
ship by coal companies of large surface areas have tended to minimize the 
interest in farming, and at the same time to create excellent opportunities for 
those who do successful farming. 

OPPORTUNITIES FOE COLONIZATION. 

In the Appalachian Plateau section are several large areas of cut-over lands 
suitable for subdivision into live-stock farms of from 150 to 200 acres. The 
present prices of those lands for complete boundaries run from $2 to $10, the 
prevailing price being $5 anl $6 per acre. The cost of clearing will be around 
$30 per acre. There might also be available some muck land suitable for 
potatoes, cabbage, etc., at higher prices than above. 

In the Central and Ohio Valley sections are some tracts, in cases partially 
cleared, large enough for colonization, and other combinations of tracts can 
be made to provide for colonies of general and live-stock farms. Some of 
these are near established roads and settled communities. Prices will vary 
from $5 to $20 per acre. 

In the southern section are surface tracts owned by coal companies well 
located for colonies of intensive farmers to supply the coal camps with produce, 
fruit, milk, etc. 



104 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

PEESENT TENDENCIES IN WEST VIRGINIA AGRICULTURE. 

There is a marked tendency in nearly all sections of the State toward better 
farming, such as better crop rotations, better use of fertilizers, better breeding 
and management of live stock. Coupled with this is a growing appreciation of 
country life and all it means. Practically inexhaustible supplies of natural 
gas, coal, and oil, with steady local markets, increasing mileage of hard roads, 
beautiful scenery and moderate climate and other factors are helps to make 
country life in West Virginia satisfying. Several hundred community clubs 
with broad educational plans for community betterment are combined into 
many active farm bureaus which cooperate with the college of agriculture and 
the United States Department of Agriculture in supporting well-trained county 
agents and home demonstrating agents. In general, the outlook of West Vir- 
ginia farmers at the present time is distinctly opimistic. 

Here and there throughout the State are desirable farms, well located in 
good settled communities, that are for sale because of deaths and other 
causes, and also because of the shortage of farm laborers willing to work as 
tenants or " hands " at the wages offered by owners who lack the initiative 
or capital to make better terms possible. Some of these farms are being 
purchased by tenants, some by farmers from rougher sections who have 
acquired capital from sales of mineral rights, and some by returning soldiers 
who are sons of property owners in the same section. 

There are in most sections soldiers with actual farm experience who are 
desirous of owning farms of their own and ready to operate them themselves 
under improved methods with which they have now become familiar. Some 
of these soldiers are prepared to finance themselves in part, but many have 
no resources other than knowledge of farming, good health, and ambition. 

RECOMMENDATIONS. 

In view of the conditions briefly sketched above, we recommend :, 

First. That the Federal Government provide some form of aid which will 
make directly and immediately available to returned soldiers all help neces- 
sary for the purchase and equipment of cleared or partly cleared farms for 
immediate use. Desirable farms in the State are offered for sale at the 
present time at prices not in excess of the cost of preparting cut-over lands 
for actual farming. 

The returned soldiers who are interested in farming are ready to begin 
farming now and need immediate aid. For this purpose a Federal appro- 
priation of $5,000,000 is recommended to be immediately available without 
reference to State aid. 

Second. In conformity with the proposed plan of Federal and Slate coopera- 
tion, that Federal aid be provided for the colonization of returned soldiers. 
There are at least 25 areas with approximately 500,000 acres in the State 
which are suitable for colonization by returned soldiers for general and 
grazing farms. Each area is large enough for suitable farms for from 50 to 
150 farmers when cleared and properly fitted for settlement. For this pur- 
pose an appropriation of $5,000,000 is recommended to be available for 
developing the farms which the State legislature of 1921 may make appropria- 
tions to purchase. 

This makes an appropriation totaling £10,000.000 for soldier settlements in 
West Virginia. 



PART III. 



REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS OF LANDS NEEDING 
DRAINAGE AND CUT-OVER LANDS IN THE 
NORTHERN DIVISION AND CUT- 
OVER LANDS IN THE 
WESTERN DIVISION. 



By F. W. HANNA, Consulting Engineer. 



105 



LAND NEEDING DRAINAGE AND CUT-OVER LANDS IN NORTHERN 
DIVISION AND CUT-OVER LANDS IN WESTERN DIVISION. 



GENERAL INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. 

1. Opportunities for projects in northern division. — The northern 
division presents numerous attractive soldier-settlement possibilities 
on reclaimed cut-over lands and lands needing drainage, the prelimi- 
nary investigation disclosing one or more feasible projects in prac- 
tically every State. These projects range in size from 5,000 acres 
upward, and in the aggregate comprise 11,413,000 acres. Some of 
them are described later on in this report in detail by States, fol- 
lowing a brief discussion of the preliminary investigation, of gen- 
eral soil conditions, and of methods of reclamation in the division as 
a whole. 

2. Boundaries of northern division. — The territory here designated 
as the northern division of the lands needing drainage and the cut- 
over lands investigated under the appropriation act of Congress of 
July 1, 1919, comprises that portion of the United States lying 
east of the ninety-eighth meridian and north of the southern boun- 
daries of Kansas and Missouri and of the Ohio River and Mason ana 
Dixon line. The division therefore includes the States of Connecti- 
cut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minne- 
sota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn- 
sylvania, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Vermont, and portions of the 
States of Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. To 
this territory there were added the investigations of the cut-over 
lands in California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington in 
the western division. 

3. Soils of northern division. — The boundaries of the northern 
division not only inclose all of the glaciated regions of the United 
States, but almost all of this division has been affected by glacial 
action. Large areas in the Pacific Northwest, in the vicinity of 
Puget Sound and in eastern Washington and northern Idaho, have 
been invaded by glaciers. The glaciated parts of the country com- 
prise the glacial and loessial soil province, which is the largest and 
most important soil group in the United States. In this group are 
found the Carrington series, embodying the great prairie wheat belt 
of Minnesota and the Dakotas; the Marshall series, comprising the 
unexcelled prairie corn belt of Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois; the 
Miami series, embracing the splendid small-grain, grass, and fruit 
sections of Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio ; and the Volusia 
series, embodying the productive soils on the northern and western 
slopes of the Allegheny Mountains in New York, Pennsylvania, and 
Ohio. The glaciated regions also contain the glacial lake and river 
terrace soil province, to which belong the Fargo soil series of Red 

107 



108 DEVELOPMENT OE UNUSED LANDS. 

River Valley, famous for its small-grain and potato production, and 
the Superior, Clyde, and Dunkirk series around the shores of the 
Great Lakes, well known for their adaptability to the growing of 
small grains, grasses, vegetables, and fruits. A very large percentage 
of the peat soils of the United States is also situated within the 
boundaries of the northern division. 

4. Purpose of investigations. — The purpose of the investigations 
herein reported is the examination of unused lands needing drainage 
and unused cut-over lands and the selection therefrom of areas 
suitable for agricultural development for homes for soldiers, sailors, 
and marines. In this selection not only agricultural fitness of the 
land had to be considered but the discovery of reasonably com- 
pact tracts of suitable size for economical communities had to be 
made. It was assumed that these communities must be large enough 
to make cooperative purchasing of supplies and selling of products 
and Government supervision economically feasible. 

5. Plan of investigations. — Owing to the large area to be covered 
by the investigations and to the limited time and funds available for 
making them, actual field examination had to be reduced to a mini- 
mum and existing records relied upon and utilized to the fullest 
extent. National and State agencies were first consulted for such 
data as they were able to furnish and then county agencies were 
called upon to supplement the information thus secured. So far as 
practicable, the data obtained from these two sources were then sup- 
plemented with field examinations on some of the most promising 
areas in the various States. By following this plan it is believed 
that a maximum amount of information has been secured with a 
minimum expenditure of time and money. 

6. Relation of personnel to investigations. — In making investiga- 
tions in the northern division the general supervision of all the work 
was in charge of F. W. Hanna, consulting engineer. The field work 
on the lands needing drainage has been mainly done by P. M. Fogg, 
engineer, in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa; by 

E. I. Davis, engineer, in Kansas and Missouri; by H. J. Gault, en- 
gineer, in eastern Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio; 
and by A. D. Morehouse, engineer, in western Wisconsin, New York, 
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the New England States. The field 
work on cut-over lands has been done by W. H. Graves, irrigation 
engineer, in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, and Montana; 
by F. H. Murray, land expert, in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, 
and Missouri ; and by A. D. Morehouse, engineer, in all of the States 
above named in which he investigated the lands needing drainage, ex- 
cept Wisconsin. A portion of the field work in the investigations of 
the lands needing drainage and of the cut-over lands was done by 

F. W. Hanna, consulting engineer. 

7. Acknowledgments. — In securing the data for this report courte- 
ous, valuable, and extensive assistance has been given from numerous 
public and private sources, for which appreciation is here expressed. 
While it is impracticable to name specifically all sources of assist- 
ance, special thanks are due to the United States Forest Service at 
Washington, D. C, Helena and Missoula, Mont., and Portland, 
Oreg. ; to the United States Bureau of Public Eoacls and Rural En- 
gineering at Washington, D. C. ; to the United States Railroad Ad- 
ministration at Washington, D. C, and elsewhere; to the various 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 1C9 

State colleges and universities ; to the various State departments of 
agriculture ; to numerous other State and county officers ; and to the 
State cooperative committees appointed by the governors. 

8. Cause of swamp lands. — Practically all of the swamp lands in 
the northern division are due to glacial action. Five different ad- 
vances of large ice sheets, known technically as the Albertan, Kansas, 
Illinoisan, Iowan, and Wisconsin glaciers, each widely separated 
from one another in time, are supposed to have descended from 
higher lands in Canada into the United States, each leaving large 
accumulations of glacial drift consisting of fragments of rock ground 
into various degrees of fineness. The different drift sheets in some 
cases cover partially new areas and in other places overtop one an- 
other. The combined area formed by these various ice sheets covers 
practically all of the area east and north of the Missouri Eiver and 
north of the Ohio River, including in addition thereto New York 
and the New England States, as well as small areas beyond these 
limits. The glacial drift deposits vary from a few feet up to sev- 
eral hundred feet in depth and they obviously have had a marked 
influence on the soil, topography, and drainage conditions of the 
glaciated area. 

9. Location of present swamp lands. — Undoubtedly all of the 
glaciated areas, as originally left abounded in undrainecl depres- 
sions and pockets. The drift deposits were no sooner made, however, 
than precipitation, weathering, and erosion began to establish natural 
drainage outlets and thus to eradicate the undrainecl depressions. So 
long has been the time through which these drainage agencies have 
acted and so complete has been their work that natural drainage out- 
lets have been established for practically all of the original depres- 
sions in all of the glacial-drift sheets except the last — the Wisconsin 
glacial sheet. This sheet covers all of North and South Dakota east 
of the Missouri River, practically all of Minnesota, Wisconsin, 
Michigan, New York, and the New England States, and large areas 
in north central Iowa, northeastern Illinois, northern Indiana, and 
northern Ohio. It is therefore within these States and the portions 
thereof mentioned that the principal glacial swamp areas of the 
United States exist. If North Dakota had a large annual rainfall, 
it would be one of the large swamp-land States of the country. Its 
semiarid climate has deprived it of this distinction. 

10. Classification of swamp areas. — The swamp areas found within 
the Wisconsin drift sheet may be logically classed into three groups : 
(a) Till-plain swamps, formed on the flat till-plain areas of the 
glacial drift; (b) morainic swamps, formed within the morainic and 
intermorainic mounds of the glacial drift; and (c) glacial-lake 
swamps, formed by temporary lakes in front of retiring ice sheets as 
they melted. The till-plain swamps as a class are shallow and have 
shallow peaty or mucky soils, with sandy to clay subsoils. The 
morainic swamps more often abound in deep, small depressions, and 
quite often have deep peat soils, with stony or sandy subsoils. The 
glacial-lake swamps usually consist of very flat land, with sandy 
soils, adjacent to the old lake borders, grading into heavy clay soils 
in the interior portions of the old lake beds. 

11. Suitability of peat soils for agricultural use. — Not all peat 
soils are readily adaptable to agricultural use. The adaptability de- 



110 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

pends largely on the depth of the peat soil, the character of the under- 
lying subsoil, and the stage of decomposition of the organic matter 
of which it is composed. Peat soils are not usually well balanced in 
plant foods and need artificial fertilization. As a rule these soils 
are well supplied with nitrogen, but are often deficient in phosphorus 
and almost universally deficient in potassium. In some cases, owing 
to the incompleteness of decomposition, there is insufficient available 
nitrogen for plant growth; and the peat must be treated to hasten 
decomposition before valuable crop growth can be secured. If the 
peat soil is shallow and rests on a subsoil containing abundant avail- 
able supplies of phosphorus and potassium, there is no difficulty 
experienced in growing crops. However, if the peat is very deep, 
so that the- lack in plant-food elements can not be supplied from the 
underlying subsoils, it becomes necessary to furnish these plant foods 
through artificial fertilization. Peat soils are often deficient in the 
necessary quantities of lime for plant growth. Due to these various 
facts, careful consideration has to be given to each individual peat 
swamp to determine its particular needs to fit it for agricultural uses, 
and this adaptability must be determined before a successful drain- 
age enterprise can be foretold. 

12. Methods of reclamation of swamp lands. — The reclamation of 
swamp lands of the glacial type consists in providing general out- 
lets for drainage waters either by straightening or enlarging crooked 
and inadequate existing water channels, or by constructing new 
channels of sufficient capacity to* dispose of flood waters and of suf- 
ficient depth to give underground drainage for the lowest-lying lands 
of the swamp area. Supplementing these general outlets, lateral 
extensions into the swamp at intervals are necessary for general 
drainage. In some cases the main outlet and lateral system will be 
sufficient to provide fairly complete reclamation of the lands. 
Usually, however, for complete drainage there must be added to this 
construction tile systems varying in extent with the character of the 
land to be drained. In the scheme of reclamation of swamp lands 
for soldier settlements it is assumed that these tile systems must be 
extended to each individual farm and made to include all or part of 
the farm, as circumstances may dictate. 

13. Feasibility of reclaiming swamp lands. — It is evident that not 
all swamp lands are feasible of reclamation. Some of these lands 
lie at such low elevations that no gravity outlets can be constructed 
at reasonable cost, and pumping drainage water in generally un- 
economical. Still other tracts are so distantly located from markets 
or require such amounts of artificial fertilizer as to exclude them 
from profitable use for agriculture. However, a large proportion of 
the swamp lands of the glacial region is susceptible of economical 
reclamation and agricultural use. When properly drained, and in 
some cases properly fertilized, these lands constitute some of the 
richest lands of the United States. Instances of this are found in 
large acreages of land of this character now being profitably farmed 
in the upper Mississippi Valley, particularly in Indiana, Illinois, 
and Iowa. Careful consideration of the various merits and demerits 
of peat soils, however, must be had in each individual case, in order 
to insure success in the selection, reclamation, and agricultural de- 
velopment of swamp lands. 



DEVELOPMENT OE UNUSED LANDS. Ill 

14. Area of swamp lands. — There is a large acreage of undeveloped 
swamp land scattered throughout the northern division, but this 
land is largely concentrated in the Great Lakes States. Swamp lands 
may be divided into those permanently swamp and those periodically 
swamp. The difference between these two classes lies principally in 
the perviousness of the underlying soil, in the varying seasonal and 
annual precipitation, and in the relative efficiency of natural drain- 
age outlets. The total area of swamp lands in the northern division 
has not been separated from that of overflowed lands, but the con- 
bined area of these lands is estimated to be 22,866,000 acres. (See 
Table 1, p. 115.) 

15. Location of available over-flowed lands. — The overflowed lands 
consist of the low-lying areas or bottom lands bordering the rivers 
in the United States that are subject to overflow at times of excep- 
tional floods. Lands of this character abound throughout the north- 
ern division along the various streams, but they are principally 
located on low-gradient, silt-laden streams in the Mississippi River 
drainage basin. 

16. Cause of overflowed lands. — Nature generally provides ade- 
quately for ordinary events but not so well for extraordinary events ; 
consequently, as might be expected, there is a natural inadequacy of 
river channels for carrying excessive flood waters. This natural in- 
adequacy of river channels accounts for a considerable proportion of 
the overflowed bottom lands of the country. Undoubetdly, however, 
human agencies are responsible for much of the present overflowed 
lands along our rivers. In many cases city improvements have en- 
croached on the natural channels of the streams, resulting in higher 
water stages and inundations of adjacent low-lying lands. The 
draining of swamp lands in the glaciated regions has greatly in- 
creased their maximum flow. The cultivation of vast areas within 
the drainage basins of the rivers has greatly increased the silt loads 
of these rivers, resulting in the filling of natural channels and the 
broadening and heightening of river stages. As civilization has ad- 
vanced, there has been, therefore, a constantly increasing area of 
these rich bottom lands overflowed during the maximum flood stages 
of rivers. 

IT. Suitability of soils of overflowed lands for agricultural uses. — 
Naturally, the overflowed lands along the rivers of our country are 
of alluvial character and origin. As a result there is a mixture of 
soil particles from a wide range of sources, including likewise par- 
ticles of undecayed or decaying vegetable matter. Hence these soils 
contain, as a rule, a well-mixed and well-balanced proportion of 
plant foods, and are therefore among the most fertile and productive 
soils in the world. 

18. Methods of reclamation of overflowed lands. — The primary 
problem in the reclamation of overflowed lands consists in the con- 
struction of levee systems or of improving river channels to prevent 
the flood waters of the river from spreading over the adjacent low- 
lying lands. The second feature of this class of land reclamation 
consists in the provision of drainage works for disposing of local 
surface waters either through channels carried to lower levels or 
by means of pumping plants. Generally, the complete reclamation 
of overflowed lands requires open ditches and underground tile 



112 DEVELOPxMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

systems for keeping down the ground-water plane within the area 
itself, resulting from local precipitation and seepage, and pumping 
plants or gravity outlets for these systems. 

19. Feasibility of reclamation of overflowed lands. — Owing to 
the exceptional fertility of the soils of overflowed lands the reclama- 
tion of these lands may be undertaken at a comparatively high cost. 
Cost of maintenance is an important feature because of the levee 
systems and pumping plants often accompanying this class of recla- 
mation. Large acreages of these lands have already been reclaimed 
in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri, and these reclaimed 
lands form some of the best lands in these fertile agricultural 
States. 

20. Area of overflowed lands. — While there is a considerable area 
of overflowed lands along the rivers in the northern division, yet 
the total of these areas is small compared with that of the swamp 
lands already discussed. (See par. 14.) 

21. Location of cut-over lands. — The unoccupied timber cut-over 
lands of the northern part of the United States are concentrated 
into five fairly well segregated areas. There is a large area in the 
upper Appalachian Mountain system in the New England and At- 
lantic Central States ; another large area is situated in what is called 
the Great Lake States — that is, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michi- 
gan; a third area exists in the Ozark region in Missouri and Ar- 
kansas; still another area is found in the Rocky Mountain region 
in western Montana, northern Idaho, and eastern Washington; the 
fifth area lies in the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Mountain regions 
along the Pacific coast. In the mountain regions the cut-over lands 
best suited to agriculture are generally situated in the river valleys 
where the soils are mostly of a rich alluvial character. Those in the 
Great Lakes States are scattered throughout the great glacial plains 
of that region and have rich glacial soils interspersed with soils not 
all well adapted to agriculture. The agricultural lands of the 
Ozark group are found in the river valleys and on flat upland areas 
of the Ozark uplift. Many of these areas of cut-over lands, particu- 
larly in the Great Lakes, Appalachian, and Ozark groups, are situ- 
ated close to large centers of population and, as a class, offer 
an excellent field for agricultural prosperity. 

22. Classification of cut-over lands. — The primary need of all the 
cut-over area is that of classification of the lands into -those suitable 
for 'agriculture, grazing, and silviculture. A little of this classifica- 
tion work already has been done by the United States Forest Service 
in the northwest and some more has been roughly done in these in- 
vestigations. Until such classification is completed there can be no 
general rational treatment of the cut-over lands as a whole. When 
it is made, lands suited only for reforestation can be allowed to revert 
to forests or can be reseeded ; those suited to grazing can be utilized 
for that purpose ; those adapted to agriculture can be put under cul- 
tivation. 

23. Suitability of cut-over lands for agricultural uses. — The soils 
of timber lands are not generally so rich in nitrogen as those of 
prairie lands; first, because timber, on account of its deeper root 
penetration and slower growth, will grow on poorer soil than will 
grass ; and, second, because it does not fertilize the soil with nitrogen 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 113 

through annual decay so liberally as does grass. Consequently, tim- 
ber soils originally having the same mechanical and chemical com- 
position as those of prairie soils are often somewhat deficient in 
nitrogen. Thus it appears that timber soils are usually weak in the 
plant-food element in which peat soils are strong. Both soils, there- 
fore, generally need fertilization. Nitrogen for the timber soils can 
be produced by introducing clover into the crop rotation; the defi- 
cient potassium of the peat soils must be bought. Both soils may 
also need lime. Much of the undeveloped cut-over areas of the Great 
Lakes States has the same rich agricultural value as have those al- 
ready developed in the long-used cut-over areas of northern Ohio, 
Indiana, and Illinois. Unquestionably future generations will see 
much the same general agricultural development in a large propor- 
tion of the cut-over areas of the Great Lakes States as now exists 
in the more matured cut-over areas of the older States already 
referred to. The cut-over areas of the northern division are in 
-regions of sufficient rainfall for crop production without irrigation. 
Part of those in the western division has a heavy rainfall in the early 
season and only limited irrigation is beneficial in some cases during 
the latter part of the summer. 

24. Methods of clearing cut-over lands. — There are four well- 
known methods of land clearing in vogue in the cut-over regions of 
the United States. These different methods will be designated as 
the pasturing, burning, blasting, and pulling methods. In the appli- 
cation of any of these methods it is generally desirable to slash the 
land first so as to permit its seeding to clover and grass in the case 
of pasturage or to permit ready operation of machinery in case of 
applying other methods. In the pasturing method the slashed lands 
are seeded to clover and grass, and the lands are utilized for pastur- 
age purposes until such time as the stumps and roots become suffi- 
ciently rotted to permit of cultivation of the land without actual 
removal of the stumps. Where the stumps are mainly of rapidly 
decaying species, clearing by pasturing is worthy of consideration. 
In any event, the utilization of the pasturing method for sufficient 
time to allow partial decay of the smaller roots of the stumps is 
desirable, so far as practicable, before removing the stumps by other 
methods of clearing. The burning method is comparatively inex- 
pensive in outlay for supplies and equipment, but it is not effective 
in loose or sandy soils and is a very slow and tedious process for a 
small operating force. The blasting method is rapid and effective; 
requires a small operating force and a moderate equipment, but it 
requires a heavy outlay for explosives. The pulling method requires 
comparatively expensive equipment, a small operating crew, and 
does very good work, but is not readily applicable to large stumps. 
Various combinations of these different methods may often be applied 
to advantage, particularly pasturing, blasting, and pulling. 

25. Feasibility of reclamation of cut-over lands. — The cost of 
clearing cut-over lands varies with (a) the character of the soil, (b) 
the nature of the forest growth, and (c) the methods used in clear- 
ing. Where explosives are used the tightness of the soil adds to the 
effectiveness of the explosives. The best results are, therefore, ob- 
tained in clay soil and the poorest in sand, with intermediate results 
for loam soil. The nature of the second growth, the size, the num- 

141001— H. Doc. 262, 66-1 8 



114 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

ber per acre, the stage of decay of the stumps, and the species of 
parent trees of the stumps all are controlling factors in cost of land 
clearing. The effect of the different species of trees is highly im- 
portant because of their sectional distribution in the cut-over regions 
of the country. 

The Great Lakes States are the home of the white pine intermin- 
gled with hardwoods. The Ozark region is essentially the home of 
the hardwoods ; the Southern States of yellow pine ; and the Pacific 
Northwest of the larch and fir. White pines and hardwoods, as a 
rule, have no tap roots, but have large spreading roots fairly easily 
removed. Large yellow pines have large strong tap roots and are 
difficult and expensive to remove. Larches have roots entering the 
ground obliquely and are therefore difficult of removal. Fir roots 
are similar in habit to white-pine roots, but the immense size of fir 
stumps makes them difficult and expensive to remove. As a result 
land clearing is generally considered cheaper in the Great Lakes 
States and the Ozark regions than in the other tw T o regions, and it is 
cheaper in the South than in the Pacific region, where land clearing 
often is a ver} 7 expensive operation. Taken as a whole, the clearing 
of cut-over lands on good agricultural soils for agricultural use is 
eminently feasible and offers splendid opportunities for extending 
the agricultural resources of the United States. 

26. Degree of reclamation of cut-over lands. — The degree to which 
the reclamation of lands is to be carried is an important factor in 
the problem of land development by the Government either for agri- 
cultural homes for soldiers or for general agricultural purposes. 
Whether complete preparation of the land for occupancy and culti- 
vation or whether some intermediate course should be adopted is 
worthy of profound consideration. In the reclaiming of cut-over 
lands it appears that at least some form of clearing of the farm will 
undoubtedly be desirable. The preliminary preparation of 15 to 30 
per cent of such lands for cultivation by clearing would enable the 
settler to obtain an immediate means of support, in part at least, 
until more land could be reclaimed by him. Whether a complete 
clearing of the land of the farm is to be done is worthy of careful 
consideration, because such clearing may be done by the settler him- 
self at odd times without much financial outlay. In such case a 
clearing program should be laid down to be followed by the settler 
to assure the reclamation of the land. In most cases it will be de- 
sirable to require the preservation of a small wood lot for the settler's 
use for fuel and fence posts. 

27. Area of cut-over lands. — The total area of cut-over lands in 
the northern division is indeed very large, but the investigations 
made up to the present time indicate that only a part of these lands 
can ever be profitably used for agriculture. The nearest estimate 
that can be given at the present time of the total area in the northern 
division, including 3,645,000 acres in California, Idaho, Montana, 
Oregon, and Washington, suitable for agriculture is 22,483,000 acres. 
Information concerning acreage and character of the cut- over lands 
for the northern division, tabulated by States, will be found in 
Table 2, page 115. 

28. Offers of land for soldier settlements. — In the northern divi- 
sion no requests were made, either on landowners or State officials, 
for offers of lands for soldier settlements, but numerous offers at 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



115 



reasonable prices were voluntarily made bv a great number of parties 
in different States in the division. Had it been considered desirable 
to make requests for offers of lands undoubtedly a great many more 
would have been received, as the possibility of such offers is large in 
many of the States of the northern division. The voluntary offers 
received, amounting to about 3,800,000 areas, have been summarized 
by States in Table 3, page 116, of this report. 

Table 1. — Estimated total, investigated and available acreages of swamp and 

overflows in northern division. 



States. 


Estimated 
present 
acreage. 


Acreage 
. investi- 
gated . 


Estimated 
acreage 
investi- 
gated 
available 
for settle- 
ment. 


Connecticut 


59, 000 

• 762,000 

660, 000 

542, 000 

463, 000 

187, 000 

133, 000 

5, 434, 000 

6, 828, 000 

1, 000, 000 

300, 000 

19, 000 

377, 000 

700, 000 

750, 000 

257, 000 

57, 000 

12, 000 

500, 000 

23, 000 

3, 803, 000 






Illinois 


513, 000 
82, 000 
70, 000 

281,000 




Indiana 




Io^a 




Kansas 


20 000 


Maine *. 




Massachusetts 


12,000 
450, 000 
735, 000 
910, 000 

80, 000 


12, 000 


Michigan 


220,000 
250, 000 


Minnesota 


Missouri 


330,000 


Nebraska 


New Hampshire 




New Jersey 


30, 000 

114,000 

- 20,000 

30, 000 


30, 000 


Ne*v York 


64,000 
20, 000 


North Dakota 


Ohio 




Pennsylvania 




Rhode Island 






South Dakota 


387, 000 


10, 000 


Vermont 


Wisconsin 


539, 000 


220, 000 






Total 


22, 856, 000 


4,259,000 


1, 176, 000 







Table 2. — Estimated total unoccupied acreage, acreage thereof suitable for 
agriculture and investigated acreage available for community settlement of 
cut-over lands in States covered by northern division. 



States. 



California 

Connecticut 

Idaho 

Maine 

Massachusetts. . 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Missouri 

Montana 

New Hampshire 

New Jersey 

New York 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania. . . 
Rhode Island... 

Vermont 

Washington 

Wisconsin 

Total 



Total 

estimated 

acreage. 



1,300,000 
1,000,000 
1, 000, 000 
6,000,000 
2,000,000 
8,700,000 
8,800,000 
13,000,000 

695,000 
2, 600, 000 
1,150,000 
6,000,000 
2,700,000 
5,300,000 

360,000 
2,000,000 
4,500,000 
7,500,000 



74,605,000 



Estimated 
acreaee 
suitable 

for agricul- 
ture. 1 



355,000 

300,000 

476,000 

( 2 ) 

( 2 ) 

4,200,000 

5, 3 00, 000 

3,000,000 

312,000 

( 2 ) 
600,000 



830,000 
( 3 ) 

185,000 
( 2 ) 
2,025,000 
4,900,000 



22,483,000 



Estimated 
minimum 

acreage 
investigated 
avail able for 
community 
settlement. 



155,000 



127,000 

30,000 

30,000 

2,000;000 

2,500,000 

1,500,000 

95,000 

10,000 

300,000 



385,000 
10,000 
15,000 
10,000 

570,000 
2,500,000 



10,237,000 



1 This does not include lands suitable for grazing. 



2 Unknown. 



» Small. 



116 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



Table 3. — Summary by States — Offers of land of 1,000 acres or over for soldier 

settlement in northern division. 



State. 


Amount 
of land 
offered. 


Remarks. 


California 


Acres. 
16,000 




Idaho 


Included with Washington. 


Maine 


38,000 

9^,600 

649, 100 

567,000 

1, 145, 500 

7,700 

44,200 

20,000 


One project. 


Massachusetts 


Michigan 


Also "several thousands" of acres. 


Minnesota 


Also land in Red Lake Reservation. 


Missouri 


Also "large tracts." 


Montana 




New York 




North Dakota 




Ohio 


1,000 : 


Oregon 


3,000 | 


Pennsylvania 


14,500 


Washington 


391 , 000 Includes some in Idaho. 


Wisconsin 


838,500 


Also laree areas in " Glacial Lake" area 




and in Langlade County. 


Total 


3,829,300 









CALIFORNIA. 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 

29. Scope and results of investigations. — The work in California, 
done under the supervision of the northern division, consisted in 
compiling existing information on the cut-over lands of the State. 
The investigations of the arid lands and the lands needing drainage 
in the State were made under the supervision of the western divi- 
sion. The results of the investigations on cut-over lands indicate 
that there are 12 areas of these lands in California which contain 
considerable good agricultural lands as well as large acreages of 
grazing lands. The cut-over lands of the State naturally fall into the 
redwood group and the pine group. These two classes of cut-over 
lands will be treated separately in detail in the following paragraphs. 
For a classification of the cut-over lands of the State by counties, 
see Table 5, page 119. 

30. Offers and prices of lands. — No offers of land for soldier settle- 
ments were solicited in California, but there are large acreages avail- 
able in large holdings, and no difficulty is anticipated in securing 
lands in bodies suitable for use. The cut-over lands of the State are, 
as a rule, assessed at a little over one-third of their actual value, and 
the assessed value ranges from about $1.50 to $10 per acre. The actual 
value of the land, therefore, on this basis, would be about $5 to $30 
per acre. Improved lands in the redwood districts are valued at 
from $50 to $600 per acre, and those in the pine districts at from 
$25 to $300 per acre. 

31. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils of the redwood 
lands are mainly of volcanic origin and are usually rich in all plant 
foods except nitrogen, and productive. The soils of the pine regions 
are partly derived from volcanic rocks and partly from granitic for- 
mations. In most of the pine areas the soils have proved agricultu- 
rally successful. On the whole, the cut-over areas of California 
classed as agricultural lands may be said to have good agricultural 
possibilities. 



DEVELOPMENT OE UNUSED LANDS. 117 

REDWOOD CUT-OVER LANDS. 

32. Location. — The redwood cut-over lands of California lie on 
the extreme western slope of the Cascade Mountains along the Pacific 
coast in Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, San Mateo, and Santa 
Cruz Counties. The lands suitable for agriculture are situated on 
the table-lands, on the ridge tops, and along the streams at from 10 to 
40 miles back from the coast. On the slopes between the summits 
of the ridges and the streams there are large areas of land suitable 
for grazing, and these lands can, in a large measure, be utilized with 
the farm lands. The area suitable for agricultural development is 
estimated to be about 132,000. (See Table 4, p. 118.) 

33. Agricultural possibilities. — The redwood cut-over lands lie in 
the fog belt of the Pacific coast and thev have a very uniform climate. 
The temperature ranges from about 30° to 80° a Dove zero and the 
annual precipitation averages about 36 inches. Irrigation is not 
necessary to crop growth. Numerous farms have been established on 
the cut-over lands of the redwood area and are proving to be very 
useful and productive. The lands are adapted to the production of 
oats, alfalfa, vegetables, berries, and, in the more rolling parts of the 
country, in addition thereto, apples, cherries, peaches, plums, pears, 
and grapes. 

34. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The redwood cut-over lands, 
since they have been logged off, have become thickly overgrown with 
brush of various kinds, and there have sprung up from the redwood 
stumps many suckers, some of which are growing rapidly into trees. 
Considerable growths of Douglas and white fir have begun to estab- 
lish themselves in some places. The redwood stumps are very large 
and decay slowly, but they are not thick on the ground, and it is pos- 
sible to do considerable farming without removing them. The pri- 
mary reclamation work will consist, therefore, in removing small 
trees of commercial value, in brushing the land and in putting it in 
pasture, or in removing the small stumps and putting it into inter- 
stump crops. Ultimately the main stumping can then be done either 
by the farmer as time permits or partly by him and partly by the 
Government as good business may dictate. The cut-over lands of 
this class are all in private ownership and many of the areas are held 
in comparatively large tracts. 

35. Transportation facilities and towns. — Transportation facili- 
ties for the redwood cut-over lands are furnished through a branch 
of the Southern Pacific Railroad, passing near the eastern limits of 
the lands, with interjecting branches, and by shipping facilities 
through harbors along the Pacific coast. There are small towns 
located within or near the agricultural lands of the redwood cut-over 
regions, but the principal markets for these lands exist at the large 
cities on the Pacific coast. 

PINE CUT-OVER LANDS. 

36. Location and acreage. — The pine cut-over lands of California 
are found along the streams and on the plateaus and rolling hills in 
the cut-over areas on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Moun- 
tains, and are divided into seven groups, designated in this report as 
the Siskiyou, McClouds River, Lassen, Feather River, American 



118 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



River, Tuolumne, and San Joaquin River projects or areas. It is 
roughly estimated that there are approximately 192,000 acres ol 
these lands suitable for development for agriculture. (See Table 4, 

below.) 

37. Agricultural possibilities— -The mean annual precipitation ol 
this region varies from 30 to 45 inches, but in some places is as low 
as 15 inches. The snowfall is fairly heavy in the higher altitudes. 
Although the rainfall in the larger part of the areas of pine cut-over 
lands is sufficient for growing most crops, there are many localities 
in which irrigation can be used to advantage. The principal agri- 
cultural-products are cereals, alfalfa, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, 
and nuts. Stock raising also is an important industry, and it has 
already progressed to a highly developed stage. 

38. Engineering plan and feasibility. — These cut-over lands are 
largely overgrown with small brush, and there is considerable 
" down " timber in many localities. There is also some small timber 
scattered throughout the area which must be removed in connection 
with the general operations of brushing and disposing of the 
" down " timber. Reclamation, therefore, will consist of brushing 
the land, including the disposal of the " down " timber, stumping a 
portion of it for cultivation purposes, and brushing other portions 
of it and sowing it to grass crops in order that it may be utilized 
while the stumps are maturing for removal and while the farmer is, 
himself, removing these stumps as time will permit. 

39. Transportation facilities and towns.-— The pine cut-over lands 
of California are served by the Southern Pacific Railroad, which 
passes along the edge of the district, and by various branches thereof 
extending up into the areas. Logging railroads, logging wagon 
roads, and other highways are numerous throughout the cut-over 
areas and these can be utilized with success in opening the lands for 
reclamation and settlement. Numerous small towns exist throughout 
each of the pine cut-over areas, which will furnish local markets for 
many of the agricultural products. The outlet for the bulk of prod- 
ucts, however, will be through the large cities on the Pacific coast. 

Table 4. — Agricultural cut-over land in California. 



Projects. 



County. 



Redwood group: 

Del Norte 

Eel River 

Mendocino 

Santa Cruz 

Sonoma 

Pine group: 

American River . 

Feather River... 

Lassen 

McClouds River. 

San Joaquin 

Siskiyou 

Tuolumne 



Total 

Other areas, various. 



Estimated total in State. 



Del Norte 

Humboldt 

Mendocino 

Santa Cruz, San Mateo. 
Sonoma 



Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Eldorado 

Plumas, Tehama , Butte 

Lassen, Shasta 

Shasta, Siskiyou 

Fresno. Tulare 

Siskiyou 

Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne. 



Acreage 

suitable 

for 

agriculture. 



5,000 
40,000 
52,000 
25,000 
10,000 

90,000 
15,000 
13,000 
10,000 
5,000 
45,000 
14,000 



324,000 
31,000 



355,000 



Estimated 

acreage 

available 

for 

community 

settlement. 



20.000 
25,000 
15,000 
10,000 

30,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 



15,000 
10,000 



155,000 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



119 



Table 5. — Classified unoccupied cut-over lands in various counties in cut-over 

regions of California. 



County. 


Area of 
unoc- 
cupied 
cut-over 
lands. 


Area 

moU 
suitable 

for 
reforesta- 
tion. 


Area 
mo-t 
suitable 
for 
agri- 
culture. 


Area 
mo?t 

suitable 
for 

grazing. 


Prevail- 
ing 
price of 
cut-over 
lands. 


Amador 


14, 700 

38, 500 

10, 700 

• 9,600 

25, 100 

33, 800 

96,300 

8,900 

8,200 

6,000 

7,400 

8,900 

174,700 

212, 800 

117,000 

19, 200 

26,000 

60, 700 

48,600 

21, 800 

177,600 

36,600 

12-1.000 

35, 200 

9,700 


7,600 

19, 200 

5,500 

1,900 

10,000 

16, 800 

26, 500 

4,400 

3,400 

3,000 

3,700 

4,400 

69,900 

81, 100 

47, 000 

10,600 

9,400 

24, 300 

25, 800 

10,900 

70, 700 

7,300 

60,000 

17, 700 

5,9G0 


2,900 

5,800 

2,100 

4,800 

6,300 

6,800 

39, 700 

1,800 

1,600 

1,500 

1,500 

1,800 

52,400 

.50, 700 

29, 000 

4,800 

7,800 

18, 200 

16, 200 

4,400 

44,400 

18,300 

24,000 

7,000 

1,500 


4,200 

13, 500 

3, 100 

2,900 

8,800 

10,200 

30, 100 

2,700 

3, 200 

1,500 

2,200 

2,700 

52, 400 

7i;ooo 

41,000 

4, 800 

7,800 

18, 200 

6,600 

6,500 

62, 500 

11,000 

36,000 

10,500 

2,300 


$10-15 


Butte 


3-10 


Calaveras ?1 


3- 5 


Del Norte : 


15-30 


Eldorado 


5-10 


Fresno 


5-10 


Humboldt 


10-25 


Kern 




Lake 




Lassen 


5-15 


Madera 


3- 5 


Mariposa 


10-15 


Mendocino 


5-10 


Nevada 


3- 5 


Placer 


5-10 


Plumas 


5-10 


San Mateo 


20-50 


Santa Cruz 


5-25 


Shasta 


2-10 


Sierra 


2-10 


Siskivou 


2-10 


Soncma 


3-10 


Tehama 


3-10 


Tuolumne, 


5-10 


Yuba 


5-10 






Total 


1,318,000 


547,000 


355, 300 


415, 700 









CONNECTICUT. 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 



40. Opportunities for projects in Connecticut. — Endeavors made 
through cooperation with State officials and personal inspection to 
locate areas in Connecticut suitable for soldier settlements have not 
yet been satisfactorily successful in this State. There are about 
300,000 acres of cut-over lands in the State reported to be suitable 
for agriculture and about 59,000 acres of swamp lands. There are 
also a considerable number of neglected farms available, but these 
are somewhat scattered. It seems probable, therefore, that further 
investigation may disclose sufficient farms of the above description 
fairly closely situated that may be combined with the purchase of 
small adjacent farms to make a compact area for a project in this 
State, or that a combination of such farms with some of the unoccu- 
pied cut-over lands reported to be suitable for agriculture may be 
effected. 

IDAHO. 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 

41. Scope and results of investigations. — Investigations of the 
cut-over lands of Idaho have resulted in locating eight tracts of 
considerable size, all of which contain promising agricultural possi- 
bilities. Owing to lack of space, it will be impossible to give sepa- 
rately here for each of these tracts detailed information as to soils, 
topography, climate, and agriculture, although such information has 



120 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

been obtained for each of them. These eight tracts may logically 
be subdivided into two groups of four areas each. The northern 
area consists of what may be designated the glacial group, and the 
southern area of what may be termed the volcanic group. Separate 
discussions will be devoted to each of these groups in the following 
paragraphs. These investigations did not include swamp and over- 
flowed lands in this State. (See Table 7, p. 124, for a general classi- 
fication of cut-over lands in Idaho.) 

42. Offers and prices of land. — No offers of land for soldier settle- 
ments were solicited in Idaho and none received, except for some 
small areas overlapping from larger holdings in eastern Washing- 
ton. There are numerous tracts held in large ownerships, and no 
difficulty will be encountered in securing lands in compact enough 
bodies for soldier settlements in most of the eight areas investigated. 
Raw cut-over lands of good quality in these regions can be secured 
at from $5 to $25 per acre and improved lands vary in price from 
$50 to $100 or more per acre. 

43. Soils and general agricultural possibilities. — The soils of the 
glacial group of cut-over lands range from silt loam to fine sanely 
loam in the northern part of the territory, to stony loams as the 
morainic limits of glaciation a-re approached. In the volcanic group 
the soils range from clay loam to sandy loam and are generally free 
from stones. Practically all of this group lies in the Columbia River 
lava flow area, and the surface soils consist of residual soils formed 
from disintegration of the underlying lava rock. Exceptions to 
this rule exist in the alluvial soils of the river bottoms and in a small 
portion of the Coeur d'Alene tract north of Coeur d'Alene Lake, 
where the soil is residually formed from granitic rock. Generally 
speaking, the soils of both regions are well supplied with all of the 
plant foods except nitrogen and produce well under proper methods 
of farming. Taken as a whole, the lands are well adapted to diversi- 
fied farming, fruit growing, and stock raising. 

GLACIAL CUT-OVER LANDS. 

44. Location. — The glacial cut-over lands of northern Idaho are 
grouped into four areas designated as the Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint, 
Priest River, and Spirit Lake tracts. The Bonners Ferry tract is 
situated in Boundary County along the Kootenai River in the north- 
eastern corner of Idaho, with a narrow strip extending up the Moyie 
River, a tributary of Kootenai River. The Sandpoint tract lies in 
Bonner County to the north and west of Lake Pend O'Reille and 
comprises the lower valleys of the Pack River and Sandpoint Creek 
and a portion of the valley of Clarks Fork. The Priest River area 
lies in Bonner County and occupies the valley of Clarks Fork in the 
vicinity of the mouth of Priest River, the Priest River Valley, the 
broad outwash plains south of Priest Lake, and lowland areas west 
of Priest Lake extending to the Washington State line. The Spirit 
Lake tract lies in Bonner and Kootenai counties in the depression be- 
tween Mount Carlton on the west and the Cceur d'Alene Mountains 
on the east and between Cocolala Lake on the north and Hay den Lake 
on the south. In all of these tracts the agricultural lands comprise 



DEVELOPMENT Oti UiN'USED LAiSTDS. 121 

alluvial lowlands and terraces along the streams, with adjacent 
glaciated hills. 

45. Acreage. — In Table 6, page 124, are tabulated data relating to 
the glacial cut-over lands. It will be noted that the total estimated 
area of these tracts suitable for agriculture is 208,000 acres, of which 
80,000 acres are supposed to be available for community settlements. 

46. Agricultural possibilities. — The annual precipitation in this 
part of Idaho varies from about 20 to 28 inches. Most of this occurs 
between September 1 and June 1 of the following year, resulting in 
a dry period during the summer months. This condition necessitates 
largely the growing of crops that mature in the early part of the 
season, or in the practice of irrigation. Consequently, while fairly 
good results may be obtained without irrigation, the best results in 
practically all of the areas are obtained by irrigation. Without ir- 
rigation hay, small grains, early fruits, and early vegetables can be 
grown successfully. With irrigation additional hay crops, and later 
and better fruits and full-season vegetables can be grown with 
success. Taken altogether, the agricultural possibilities of the region 
are considered to be satisfactory. However, each locality should be 
considered on its merits. 

47. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The stumps in this region 
consist of those of white pine, cedar, red fir, and larch trees ranging 
from medium to large-size growths. In the logging operations there 
was left a considerable quantity of small timber; and, where the 
land has been cleared for some time, there are growths of brush and 
young trees of the parent species. However, the brush and young 
growths in these regions are not so luxuriant as they are in the more 
humid regions of the United States. The process of reclamation of 
this group of cut-over lands will consist, therefore, in the removal of 
small standing timber, fallen timber, brush, and young growth. 
After this slashing operation, the stumps must be removed for small 
areas on each farm to permit of immediate crops. Most of the 
stumps encountered in this region are easily removed with the ex- 
ception of those of the large yellow pine and larch trees. 

48. Ownership of lands. — The cut-over lands of the Bonners Ferry 
and Priest River tracts are mainly owned by small holders; those 
of the Sandpoint tract by private holders in small tracts and by 
railroads in large tracts. On the Spirit Lake tract a portion of the 
land has been disposed of by the lumber companies to small holders 
but the lumber companies still own considerable acreage. It is be- 
lieved that no difficulty, however, will be encountered in securing 
areas within each of these tracts of sufficient size for one or more 
soldier settlements. 

49. Transportation facilities. — Inasmuch as the glacial cut-over 
lands consist of the river valley lands of northern Idaho and of 
lands closely adjacent thereto and inasmuch as the principal high- 
ways and railways of the region follow the rivers, these tracts are 
generally well supplied with transportation facilities. These prin- 
cipal highways and railroad lines are supplemented with logging 
railroads and wagon roads, which will be of use in the development 
nnd utilization of the cut-over lands. The main line of the Great 



122 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

Northern Railroad runs through the Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint 
tracts, and touches the southern portion of the Priest River tract. 
The main line of the Northern Pacific Railroad runs through the 
Sandpoint and Spirit Lake tracts. The Spokane International Rail- 
road runs through Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint, and Spirit Lake 
tracts. These lands are, therefore, all well equipped with railroad 
facilities with the exception of the Priest River tract. 

50. Towns and markets. — There are small towns connected with 
the existing agricultural, mining, and timber industries of northern 
Idaho scattered throughout the four cut-over areas. These small 
towns, with their accompanying industries, furnish very good local 
markets for a large proportion of the agricultural products of the 
region. The city of Spokane is within a short distance of this area 
and Seattle and Portland are connected by through railroad service 
with it. 

VOLCANIC CUT-OVER LANDS. 

51. Location. — The Coeur d'Alene tract includes the country sur- 
rounding Coeur d'Alene Lake and a strip of bottom land extending 
eastward along the Coeur d'Alene River. It also extends to the west- 
ward of Coeur d'Alene Lake to the State line and southward from 
the lake to the St. Joe River. The whole area lies in Kootenai County 
and drains into Coeur d'Alene Lake, thence into the Columbia River 
through Snake River. The St. Maries tract lies in Benewah County 
south of St. Joe River and west of the St. Maries River and drains 
chiefly into these rivers, although a portion of it lies m the drainage 
basin of Hangman Creek, a tributary of the Palouse River. The 
Potlatch area is situated in Latah County and lies to the south of 
the Palouse Mountains on the headwaters of the Palouse River and 
in the drainage basin of Potlatch Creek, a tributary of Clearwater 
River. The Craig Mountain tract lies in Nez Perce and Lewis coun- 
ties on the highland area between Clearwater River on the north, 
Salmon River on the south, and Snake River on the west. All of 
these lands occupy valleys and rolling volcanic plateaus. 

52. Acreage. — Table 6, page 124, indicates the total estimated acre- 
age of the volcanic group of cut-over lands suitable for agriculture 
to be 99,000 acres, of which 47,000 acres are considered available for 
community settlements. There are 20.000 acres in the valley of the 
Coeur d'Alene River and 10,000 acres in the valley of the St. Joe 
River that need drainage. This land may be drained by lowering 
the dam on the Spokane River at Post Falls, Idaho. 

53. Agricultural possibilities. — The annual precipitation in the 
Coeur d'Alene country ranges from 20 to 23 inches. The winters are 
mild and the summers warm and dry. Owing to the greater alti- 
tude of the St. Maries tract, the average annual precipitation varies 
from 23 to 25 inches, and on the upland regions the snowfall usually 
amounts to 3 or 4 feet. The winters are comparatively mild; the 
summers are hot and dry. The climate of the western part of the 
Potlatch area is similar to that of the Coeur d'Alene tract, and that 
of the eastern part of the St. Maries tract. The climate of the Craig 
Mountain tract is similar to that of the eastern Potlatch and to that 
of the St. Maries tract. In the lower altitudes of the Coeur d'Alene 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 123 

and Potlatch regions forage, grains, fruits, and vegetables are grown 
with success. In the higher altitudes the heavy winter snows make 
dairying and the growing of forage the most promising industries. 
The dryness of the summers makes irrigation a valuable adjunct to 
the farming industry, although it is not essential to success. 

54. Reclamation. — The predominating species of trees in the vol- 
canic region of the cut-over lands are* white and yellow pine, Douglas 
fir, and larch. . As a rule the timber does not grow thickly on the 
ground in this region and the trees are not nearly so large on an 
average as those on the Pacific coast. In most of the forested areas 
there are also numerous small, open spaces of prairie. The process 
of economical clearing will, therefore, consist in disposing of the 
fallen timber and small growth, and then seeding the land to pasture 
to await the decaying of the smaller stumps and the smaller roots of 
the larger stumps. Very often sufficient open land will be found on 
each 80 or 160 acre tract to supply the need for completely cleared 
lands for gardens and immediate forage crops. Where such open- 
ings do not exist, small clearings will necessarily have to be made in 
order to meet the early needs of the settler. Later the matured 
stumps in the pasture may be removed either by the farmer individ- 
ually or cooperatively with his neighbors or through Government 
enterprise. 

55.' Ownership. — The bulk of the cut-over lands in the Cceur 
d'Alene, St. Maries, and Craig Mountain tracts is still held by the 
operating lumber companies. On the Potlatch tract about one-third 
of the cleared area is held each by the lumber company, by the State, 
and by small owners. 

56. Transportation facilities. — The transcontinental line of the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and a branch of the Oregon- 
Washington Railroad & Navigation Co. passes through the southern 
portion of the Cceur d'Alene area, and branches of the Northern Pa- 
cific and Spokane International railroads extend into Cceur d'Alene 
at the northern end of the tract. There is no railroad extending di- 
rectly into the St. Maries tract, but the main line of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad passes along its northern boundary 
and a branch of this road passes up the St. Maries River on its eastern 
edge; a branch of the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation 
Co. passes along the western boundary. The Potlatch area is served 
by a branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and also by the main 
line of the Washington, Idaho & Montana Railroad. A branch of 
the Northern Pacific Railroad extending up the Clearwater River 
passes near the northern edge of the Craig Mountain tract, and the 
Camas Prairie Railroad passes along its northern and eastern 
boundary. 

57. Towns and markets. — Numerous small towns exist within these 
cut-over tracts and in adjacent surrounding territory. These towns 
will furnish local markets for a large proportion of the agricultural 
products produced on the cut-over areas. There are good railroad 
facilities for shipping agricultural products to Spokane, Portland, 
and Seattle. 



124 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



Table 6. — Agricultural cut-over lands in northern Idaho. 



Projects. 



Glacial group: 

Bonners Ferry.. 

Priest River 

Fandpoint 

Spirit Lake 

Volcanic group: 

Coeiir d'Alene.. 

Crais: Mountain. 

Potlatch 

St.Maries 



Total 

Other areas, various. 



County. 



Boundary 

Bonner 

Bonner 

Bonner-Kootenai. 



Kootenai 

Benewah 

Latah 

Nez Perce, Lewis, Clearwater. 



Estimated total in State. 



Acreage 
suitable 
for agri- 
culture. 



41,000 

8,000 

36,000 

123,000 

26,000 

26,000 

40,000 

7,000 



307,000 
169,000 



476,000 



Estimated 
acreage 

available 
for com- 
munity 
settlement. 



20,000 

8,000 

20,000 

32,000 

10,000 

10,000 

20,000 

7,000 



127,000 



Table 7. — Unoccupied cut-over lands in various counties in out-over regions of 

northern Idaho. 



County. 



Benewah.. 

Bonner 

Boundary. 
Clearwater 
Kootenai.. 



Area most 
suitable for 
agriculture. 



Acres. 

26,000 

195,000 

45,000 

5,000 

90,000 



County. 



Latah 

Lewis 

Nez Perce.. 

Total 



Area most 
suitable for 
agriculture. 



Acres. 
90,000 
20,000 
5,000 



476,000 



ILLINOIS. 
GENERAL STATEMENT. 

58. Opportunities for projects in Illinois. — Illinois originally con- 
tained large acreages of timber lands and large acreages of swamp 
lands, but these have been very largely reclaimed and put to use. 
In the river valleys of the State there are considerable areas of land 
that are yet subject to overflow during high- water stages, although 
material progress has also been made in the reclamation of these 
lands. Most these overflow lands are occupied and farmed at the 
present time. In table 8, page 37, are listed the larger areas of unre- 
claimed overflow and swamp lands of the State. It will be noted 
that it is estimated that there are 762,000 acres of land in the State 
needing drainage. Further investigations may disclose areas suit- 
able for soldier-settlements in some of these unreclaimed areas. 

It is probable that the most available lands for colonies are lands 
held in large tracts and now farmed by tenants. 

Table 8. — Lands now needing drainage in Illinois. 



Projects. 



County. 



Acreage. 



Embarrass River 

Illinois River 

Kaskaskia River 

Little Wabash River. 
Skillet Fork River... 

Spoon River 

Other areas 



Several. 

do.. 

do.. 

do.. 

do.. 

Fulton.. 
Various . 



84.000 

125,000 

160,000 

53,000 

75,000 

16,000 

249,000 



Estimated total in State. 



762,000 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 
INDIANA. 



125 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 

59. Opportunities for projects. — The large timbered areas of 
Indiana have been mainly cleared and put under cultivation and 
most of the large acreages of swamp lands have been reclaimed. 
Investigations were, however, made for the purpose of locating 
undeveloped wet lands in the Kankakee River Valley, in the Patoka 
River Valley, and in the slash-land area of southeastern Indiana as 
being the most likely places to find unreclaimed areas suitable for 
settlements. The field investigations resulted in securing informa- 
tion relating to two tracts, one with an area of 51,000 acres in the 
Wabash River bottom at the mouth of the Patoka River, and another 
of 31,000 acres in the Patoka River Valley above the Wabash bot- 
tom. While these lands are excellent for agricultural purposes, they 
are largely occupied and under cultivation, but several areas are 
vacant and compact enough for settlement. Several locations are 
known where considerable tracts are held in one or two ownerships 
and farmed by tenants, which could be made available for colonies. 

Table 9. — Lands noio needing drainage in Indiana. 



Projects. 


County. 


Acreage. 


Patoka River 


Gibson, Pike, and Dubois.. . 
Gibson 


31,000 


Wabash River 


51 ; 000 


Small tracts 


All 


578,000 






Estimated total in State 


660,000 







IOWA. 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 

60. Opportunities for projects. — Although there is a considerable 
acreage of land needing drainage in Iowa, it lies in small bodies k 
the flat lands of the north-central part of the State and along the 
rivers and creeks. One of the largest areas in the State now need- 
ing drainage lies in the lower valley of the Little Sioux River. (See 
Table 10, below.) Present prices and occupancy of the lands will, 
however, make it difficult to use this area for a Government project. 
It is unnecessary to state that there are no cut-over lands available in 
Iowa. There are opportunities for securing large holdings of land 
in the State, particularly in the north-central part, that may be sub- 
divided and used for soldier settlements. 

Table 10. — Lands needing drainage in Iowa. 



Projects. 


County. 


Acreage. 


Little Sioux River 


Monona and Harrison 

AH.... 


70,000 
340,000 


Small tracts 






Estimated total in State 


410,000 







126 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

KANSAS. 
GENERAL STATEMENT. 

61. Scope and results of investigations. — Kansas is essentially a 
prairie State and contains no areas of cut-over lands of consequence. 
The investigations were, therefore, confined to locating lands need- 
ing drainage in tracts of sufficient size for soldier settlements, lying 
east of the 98th meridian. No lands of this character were found 
other than those in the Marais des Cygnes, Cottonwood, Verdigris, 
and Neosho River Valleys, which have been investigated and re- 
ported upon by the United States Department of Agriculture. It is 
thought that possibly one or both of the last two named of these 
areas may on further investigation be found to be suitable for soldier 
settlements. Brief detailed descriptions of them, therefore, will be 
here given. 

62. Offers and prices of lands. — No solicitations for lands were 
made in Kansas and no offers were volunteered. The prices of lands 
needing protection from floods in the valleys named in the preceding 
paragraph vary from $20 to $100 per acre, and improved lands not 
subject to overflow from $50 to $200 or more per acre. 

63. Soils and general agricultural possibilities. — All four of the 
tracts mentioned lie in overflow areas of river valleys and the soils 
are derived residually, partly from the underlying strata of lime- 
stone and partly from transported materials -from similar soils on 
the uplands of the drainage basins of the rivers. The climate and 
rainfall of southeastern Kansas are such as to make the agricultural 
possibilities excellent on good soils. The lands are adapted to diver- 
sified farming. 

LANDS NEEDING DRAINAGE. 
NEOSHO RIVER PROJECT. 

64. Location and acreage. — The Neosho River project comprises 
the bottom lands along the Neosho River subject to overflow at high- 
water stages. The lands arc situated in Lyon, Coffey, Woodson, 
Allen, Neosho, and Labette Counties in southeastern Missouri and 
amount in all to about 160,000 acres. 

65. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils in the valley of 
the Neosho River where protection from overflow is needed consist 
of rich dark loam or silt loam and are fertile. The principal crops 
are corn, wheat, and hay, and the yields are quite satisfactory when 
the floods do not interfere. 

66. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The plan of reclamation 
is considered entirely feasible and consists of clearing the river chan- 
nel of obstructions, the straightening of the channel in a few of the 
worst places, flanking the improved channel on both sides at suit- 
able distances with adequate levees with return branches up the 
principal tributaries, the complete clearing of the area between the 
levees, and the providing of drainage behind the levees by means of 
outlets through the levees. It is thought that the cost will be well 
within the benefits produced by the improvement. 

67. Transportation facilities and towns. — The lands of the project 
are well served with branches of the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



127 



and the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroads, and there are many 
thriving towns in the valley. The principal towns are Emporia, 
Iola, Chanute, and Parsons, and the whole region is admirably con- 
nected with Kansas City. 



VERDIGRIS RIVER PROJECT. 



68. Location and acreage. — This project contains 48,000 acres of 
bottom land subject to overflow by the Verdigris River in Wilson 
and Montgomery Counties in southeastern Kansas. 

69. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils consist of an al- 
luvial deposit of several feet in depth varying from a dark brown to 
a rich deep black in color. In some places the soil is of a light me- 
chanical texture and in others of a heavier waxy character. The 
lands are considered fertile and produce corn, wheat, oats, and 
alfalfa. 

TO. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The reclamation would be 
accomplished by channel improvement and levee protection with 
means for draining the lands back of the levees. Further investi- 
gations are necessary here as in the other project referred to in this 
State. 

71. Transportation facilities and towns. — Transportation is sup- 
plied by branches of the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe and the 
Missouri Pacific Railroads. The principal towns are Coffeyville 
and Independence, which are connected with excellent electric-car 
service. 

Table 11. — Lands needing drainage in Kansas. 



Projects. 


County. 


Acreage. 


Cottonwood River 


Lyon, Chase, Marion 


10,000 


Marais des Cvgnes River 


Linn, Miami, Franklin, Osage 


33.000 


Neosho River 


Cherokee, Coffey, Labette," Neosho, 

Allen, Woodson. 
Montgomery, Wilson 


100, 000 


Verdigris River 


48,000 


Scattered small tracts 


All east of ninety-eighth meridian 


21,000 






Estimated total in State 


302, 000 









MAINE. 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 

72. Scope and results of investigations. — Although it is known 
that Maine has some 6,000,000 acres of cut-over lands and that it has 
also some 187,000 acres or more of swamp lands, time and funds were 
not available for making sufficient detailed investigations of these 
lands to ascertain with satisfaction the extent and location of such 
of them as might be available for Government projects. However, 
three tracts lying in Washington County, comprising approximately 
75,000 acres, were located, a large proportion of which it seems may 
be made available for soldier settlements. One of these tracts, known 
as the Cherryfield, or Cherryfield-Deblois tract, containing 38,000 
acres, was visited and investigated. This tract will be described in 
subsequent paragraphs of this report under the heading of the Cher- 
ryfield project. The Great Columbia Bog on Pleasant River lies to the 



128 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

east of the Cherry field tract and forms part of the 75,000 acres of 
available land above referred to. No investigation was made of 
this swamp. It is believed that further investigations will disclose 
other opportunities for projects in this State. 

73. Offers and prices of land. — One offer of a large tract of land 
in the State was received for which a price of $5 per acre was asked. 
The unused lands of Maine are not held at high prices and investiga- 
tions show that such lands as are available for projects may be ob- 
tained at from $5 to $10 per acre. 

74. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The agricultural lands of 
Maine lie largely in the potato-growing regions of the St. Johns 
River drainage basin of the northern part of the State, and in a diver- 
sified farming section along the Atlantic coast varying from 50 to 100 
miles or more in width, the eastern end of which is but meagerly 
developed. The soils in these regions are of glacial origin and the 
loam and clay types, where they do not contain too great quantities 
and gravel and bowlders, are generally fertile and productive of the 
crops suited to the local climatic conditions. 

CUT-OVER LANDS. 
CHERRYFIELD PROJECT. 

75. Location and acreage. — The Cherryfield project is located in the 
townships of Cherryfield and Deblois on the present bottom lands 
of the Narragaugus River and on the adjacent terraces or bench lands 
of this river in Washington County. The tract contains approxi- 
mately 38,000 acres, of which 1,800 acres are bottom lands, 15,000 
acres first bench lands, 17,000 acres second bench lands, and 4,000 
acres morainic woodlands. 

70. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils of the bottom 
lands consist of areas of fine sand intermingled with low ridges of 
silt and depressions of clay. Those of the first bench consist partly 
of silt loam overlying a subsoil of clay and of gravelly loamy sand 
overlying a shallow subsoil of coarse sand resting on clay. Asso- 
ciated with this soil on the gentler slopes is a considerable area of fine 
sand often resting on a shallow layer of coarse sand with a clay 
subsoil. The second bench soil consists of a gravelly sandy loam 
with an underlying stratum of gravelly sand about 4 feet deep rest- 
ing on clay. The character of the soil, particularly that of the 
second bench, indicates possible droughtiness and leachiness. How- 
ever, experiments conducted by private parties on this land indicate 
that the soils are fertile and adapted to the growing of such crops as 
the climatic conditions will permit. 

77. Engineering plan and feasibility. — It is probable that this 
tract of land was primarily covered with forests, but it is now over- 
grown with blueberries, grass, and brush. The reclamation of the 
lands will, therefore, be inexpensive because very little clearing and 
very little drainage will be needed. It is thought that it will be 
necessary to apply fertilizers to secure good crops on most of these 
lands. The cost of reclamation should be small enough to make the 
development of this project economically feasible. 

78. Transportation facilities and towns. — Transportation facilities 
will have to be furnished through the use of motor trucks or through 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



129 



the construction of a steam or electric line from Cherryfield to the 
tract. From Cherryfield transportation is available from the Maine 
Central Railroad. There are possibilities for power development on 
the Narragaugus River, which can be utilized for the electrification 
of a car line from Cherryfield ix»+o the tract. 

Table 32. — Agricultural cut-over lands in Maine. 



Projects. 


County. 

• 


Acreage 
smtable 
for agri- 
culture. 


Esti- 
mated 
acreage 
available 
for com- 
munity 
settle- 
ment. 


dierryneld 


Washington 


38, 000 
( l ) 


30,000 


Other areas 


Various 










Total in State. 


0) 











1 Unknown. 
MASSACHUSETTS. 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 

79. Scope and results of investigations. — The investigations in this 
State were conducted almost entirely in cooperation with the Massa- 
chusetts State committee. Through the studies of this committee, 
there were submitted maps showing 17 different tracts of land in 9 
different localities involving a total of over 250,000 acres that might, 
if desirable, be utilized for Government projects. These lands con- 
sist of undeveloped swamp lands and occupied and unoccupied val- 
ley, hill, and bench lands. Several of these areas were investigated 
and at least two, and possibly three of them were deemed attractive. 
These areas are designated the Concord, Neponset, and Cape Cod 
projects. Further investigations may disclose other tracts either su- 
perior to those named or at least suitable for development. 

80. Offers and price of lands. — Swamp lands range in value from 
$5 to $25 per acre and cut-over timber lands from $5 to $15 per acre. 
Cleared cultivated upland is generally valued at about $100 per acre. 
One offer of a large tract of cut-over land with reasonably good soil 
xnd agricultural possibilities was voluntarily made at $6 per acre. 

81. Soils and general agricultural possibilities. — The soils of Mas- 
sachusetts are mainty of glacial origin except in the swamps and the 
reworked soils along the rivers. On the whole, the soils are variable 
in character, ranging from sandy and gravelly outwash to loamy or 
clayey till plains or drumlin hills. The loam and clay soils of the 
till plains are readily cultivable and productive where they do not 
contain an excess of gravel or bowlders. 

LANDS NEEDING DRAINAGE. 
CONCOED PROJECT. 

82. Location and acreage. — The lands of this project are^ located 
in the valley of the Concord River in Middlesex County between 
the towns of Concord and Billerica, and amount in all to about 3,000 

141901— H. Doc. 262, 66-1 9 



130 DEVELOPMENT OE UNUSED LANDS. 

acres of swamp lands. Sufficient adjacent uplands can probably be 
secured to make an area large enough for a desirable project. 

83. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The bottom lands are 
alluvial in character and contain large areas of peat or muck soils 
and the adjacent uplands are rolling clay to loam hills. It is thought 
that the lowlands willbe quite fertile when reclaimed and suitable 
for general crop production. The uplands may be utilized for fruit 
growing and grazing. 

84. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The drainage of the bottom 
lands will require the lowering or removal of the dam at Billerica 
and the substitution of electric power for operation of the woolen 
mills at that point. Internal drainage of the lands can probably 
then be obtained by the usual means. Further investigations as to 
the power needs of the mill and general elevations of the lands are 
necessary for intelligent conclusions. 

85. Transportation facilities and towns. — Local transportation 
facilities are supplied by the Boston & Maine Railroad and good mar- 
kets exist in the local towns, which in a practical sense include Lowell 
and Boston. 

NEPONSET PROJECT. 

86. Location and acreage. — The lands of the Neponset project lie 
just outside of the limits of the city of Boston in the valley of the 
Neponset River in Norfolk 'County. The entire area of 9,000 acres 
is of a swampy character and is bordered by a rather rolling area, 
a part of which could be coordinated with the lowlands to form a 
project. 

87. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils in the swamp 
consist of a shallow peat or muck and will be excellently adapted to 
truck raising. The uplands are suitable for building sites, grazing, 
fruit growing and, limitedly, to general farming. Owing to the 
nearness of this tract to Boston it appears to have excellent agricul- 
tural possibilities for gardening and trucking. 

88. EngineeHng plan and feasibility. — The reclamation of these 
lands would require deepening and straightening of the Neponset 
River channel and internal drainage for the lands. Whether 
pumping of drainage water would be required is impossible to state 
without instrumental investigations, although it is thought that no 
pumping will be necessary. 

89. Transportation facilities and towns. — The main line of the 
New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad and a branch thereof 
both pass through the tract, and it is within wagon haul of the center 
of the city of Boston. Its market possibilities are of the very best. 

CUT-OVER LANDS. 

CAPE COD PEOJECTS. 

90. Location and acreage. — Running through the central part of 
Barnstable County from east to west is a strip of upland or bench 
land now covered with a second growth of coniferous and deciduous 
trees. This tract is bordered on the west and north by a high rocky 
ridge and on the south by a strip of sandy foreshore adjacent to the 
ocean. The bench lands referred to comprise about 60,000 acres that 
are considered suitable for agricultural purposes. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



131 



91. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The bench or table lands 
of this project consist of a glacial-till plain, and the soils are mainly 
a sandy loam verging in places into a gravelly loam. The soil works 
readily and is well suited to fruit growing and to the production of 
diversified farm crops. 

92. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The reclamation of this 
land will consist in clearing it of brush and timber. Here, as in 
other regions of the cut-over land areas, it is assumed that a reason- 
able portion of the farms will be cleared immediately and prepared 
for the growing of crops; that an additional acreage will have the 
timber and underbrush removed and then be seeded to pasture in 
order that the roots of the stumps may deca}^ and make it easier 
to pull them. The growth of timber on this land is of such character 
as to indicate that it rndLj be cleared within a reasonable cost. It is 
probable that applications to the land of lime, and possibly also of 
phosphorus, will be needed to secure good agricultural results. 

93. Transportation facilities and toicns. — A branch of the New 
York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad passes along the western 
and northern sides of the tract and crosses it at its eastern end. 
An extension of another branch through the tract near the western 
end will be desirable in case of its development. Local markets for 
crops raised will be provided through small towns and settlements 
along the seashores, and the entire area is very closely situated with 
respect to Providence, R. I., and Boston, Mass. 

Table 13. — Lands needing drainage in Massachusetts. 



Projects. 



Concord 

Neponset 

Scattered small tracts. 



Estimated total in State. 



County. 



Middlesex. 
Norfolk. . . 
All 



Acreage. 



3,000 

9, 000 

48, 000 



60, 00O 



Table 14. — Agricultural cut-over lands in Massachusetts. 



Projects. 


County. 


Acreage 
suitable 
for agri- 
culture. 


Esti- 
mated 
acreage 
available 
for com- 
munity 
settle- 
ment. 


Cape Cod 


Barnstable 


60, 000 
C 1 ) 


30, 000 


Other areas 


Various 












0) 











i Unknown. 
MICHIGAN. 

GENERAL STATEMENT. 



94. Scope and results of investigations. — Michigan has a large area 
of both swamp and unoccupied cut-over lands suitable for agricul- 
ture. The cut-over lands cover a large part of the whole area of the 



132 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

upper peninsula and the whole of the upper part of the lower penin- 
sula. Field investigations indicate that there are approximately 
4,200,000 acres of cut-over lands in Michigan suitable for agri- 
cultural development and about 2,700,000 acres in addition thereto 
that are suitable for grazing purposes. ( See Table 17, p. 138.) These 
cut-over lands are held quite extensively in large ownerships, and 
numerous reasonably contiguous areas suitable for projects can be 
secured throughout this region. Five projects have been tentatively 
selected for consideration in the lower peninsula and one in the upper 
peninsula. These projects are designated and described in the follow- 
ing pages under the respective captions of Au Sable River, Crawford, 
Gladwin, Manistee River, and Sturgeon River projects for the lower 
peninsula, and Matchwood for the upper peninsula. In the northern 
peninsula there are several large swamps, and many small ones are 
found in both peninsulas. It is estimated in a recent report, mafde 
cooperatively by the United States Department of Agriculture and 
the Michigan Geological and Biological Survey, that there are ap- 
proximately 2,836,000 acres of these swamp lands reclaimable in the 
lower peninsula and that there are 2,598,000 acres of swamp and lake 
area combined in the upper peninsula. (See Table 15, p. 137.) Prob- 
ably 50 per cent or more of this acreage is now suitable for agri- 
cultural development. Of these areas those designated as the Carp 
River, Cyr, Menominee, Saginaw, Seney, and Tahquamenon areas 
have been investigated by the northern division of the Reclamation 
Service. The total area of these swamps is 463,000 acres. Of these 
areas the Menominee, Saginaw, and Tahquamenon projects are. con- 
sidered most suitable for development, and detailed descriptions of 
these areas are given in this report. 

95. Offers and f rices of land. — A large number of voluntary offers 
of lands for soldier-settlement purposes in areas varying from 1,000 
to 300,000 acres each, mostly at reasonable prices, have been made 
by various landholders in this State. Lands suitable for agricul- 
tural development range in price from $5 to $35 per acre, depending 
on the location, agricultural quality, and desire of the owner to dis- 
pose of his holdings. Nearly 75 per cent of the entire cut-over 
area of Michigan is held in large ownerships, and most of the land 
is for sale. 

96. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils of Michigan 
have been formed either from glacial drift deposits, from glacial 
lake deposits, or from alluvial deposits. The soils range, therefore, 
from sands up through the various stages of loams and clays of the 
glacial types. The variability of the soils makes it necessary to 
investigate each area carefulty before its value for reclamation is 
determined. The different classes of loam and clay soils offer good 
immediate agricultural possibilities in the cut-over land areas. The 
swamp lands practical^ all have peat or muck soils of varying 
depths with subsoils ranging from pure sand to glacial clay. Careful 
investigations of their suitability for agriculture must, therefore, 
be made in each case, Both of the Michigan peninsulas are in the 
most northerly latitudes of the United States and have, therefore, 
a comparatively short growing season. However, the climate is 
greatly modified by the closeness of the lands to the Great Lakes, 
from which source they derive increased length of growing season 
and uniformity of climate. Clovers and grasses do especially well 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 133 

in this region, as do most of the small grains, short-season vegetables, 
and hardy fruits. Fruits do especially well in the areas adjacent to 
the lakes. The whole region is well adapted to dairying and grazing. 

LANDS NEEDING DRAINAGE. 

MENOMINEE PROJECT. 

97. Location and acreage. — The Menominee project is located along 
Cedar River and a number of smaller tributaries of Green Bay in 
Menominee County, Mich., and contains an area of approximatelv 
30,000 acres. 

98. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — Although the soils of this 
project are quite diversified they are considered well suited to farm- 
ing purposes. In general the surface soil consists of shallow peat or 
muck underlaid with a clay subsoil. Owing to the nearness of the 
lands to Green Bay this tract is well suited to the production of fruit 
as well as to the growing of small grains, clovers and grasses, and to 
the general industry of dairying. About three-fourths of the acreage 
of the project is owned by three parties. 

99. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The plan for drainage 
consists of opening and deepening natural creek channels by means 
of which it is expected that approximately 75 per cent of the lands 
will be adequately drained. The plan for reclaiming the remainder 
of the lands consists in the construction of artificial channels and 
the installation of such tiling systems as may be necessary to com- 
plete the drainage of the lands. Since the area is largely covered 
with a growth of brush and light timber, slashing and possibly 
stump-pulling will have to be applied to a large part of the area. 
Surveys for level determinations for about half of this tract have 
been completed by the service. 

100. Transportation facilities and, towns. — There are no railroads 
within the lands of this project but a branch of the Northwestern 
Railroad passes very close to its western edge and the lands border 
on Green Bay, where there is opportunity for water transportation. 
The small towns of Arthur Bay, Cedar River, and Fox lie within 
the project area. Menominee to the south and Escanaba to the 
north are towns of considerable size and prominence and are within 
reasonable reach of this project. Good markets are not far distant 
in the cities of Chicago and Milwaukee. 

SAGINAW PKOJECT. 

101. Location and acreage. — Saginaw project is located in Saginaw 
and Bay Counties along the lower reaches of the Saginaw River 
in the vicinity of Saginaw and Bay City. About 90,000 acres of 
land will either be reclaimed or benefited by the construction of 
this project. The proposed improvement is also considered to be 
of material benefit to the town of Saginaw. 

102. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — These lands lie in the 
old glacial lake bed surrounding Saginaw Bay, and the primary 
soils, therefore, belong to the glacial lake and river terrace province. 
The lake soils have, however, been partly reworked by floods of 
the Saginaw River, and in places they have been covered by accumu- 



134 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

lations of peat and muck. In the lower stretches of the valley the 
soils are largely of a clay character, while those in the upper 
stretches are more sandy in character. Portions of the valley al- 
ready developed agriculturally indicate a high soil fertility. This 
fact, coupled with the location of the lands adjacent to Saginaw 
Bay and in the midst of a highly developed community, insure 
good agricultural possibilities for general diversified farming. The 
lands are largely held in small holdings, some of them being in 
farms now operated. 

103. Enginee? i ing plan and feasibility. — This plan has not been 
investigated in detail by the service, but has been reported on by the 
Office of Public Eoads and Sural Engineering of the United States 
Department of Agriculture. This report indicates that the project 
is feasible. The plan proposed consists in increasing the size of the 
channel of Saginaw River and its tributaries and constructing levees 
along the river and up each tributary as far as necessary for protec- 
tion from overflow. Drainage of the lands is to be provided by 
means of pumping plants during floods and by means of sluice gates 
through the levees at low-water stages. The engineering plan is 
necessarily a complicated and expensive one, but the expense is prob- 
ably warranted by the high value of the lands to be reclaimed. 

104. Transportation facilities and towns. — Splendid transporta- 
tion facilities are provided b} r the Michigan Central and Pere Mar- 
quette Railroads. Bay City and Saginaw both lie within the area of 
this project, and there are several smaller towns that add to the urban 
population. The project is also not far distant from Detroit. 

TAHQUAMENON PROJECT. 

105. Location and acreage. — Tahquamenon project is located in the 
drainage basin of the Tahquamenon River in Luce and Chippewa 
Counties and contains approximately 100,000 acres. 

106. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — Although the soils of this 
project have not been investigated, the surface soil is supposed to 
consist mainly of shallow peat and muck underlaid with a clay sub- 
soil. A soil survey is necessary to determine the agricultural quali- 
ties of these soils. If the soils prove to be of good quality, the lands 
are probably well adapted to the growing of small grains, grasses, 
and short-season vegetables. The tract lies in the most northernly 
latitudes of the United States and, of course, is limited in the range 
of crops that can be grown. About 90 per cent of the lands lying 
within this project are owned by five different parties; the remaining 
area is held in small ownerships. 

107. Engineeiing plan and feasibility. — The swamp area in the 
Tahquamenon River drainage basin is caused primarily by a rock 
ledge in the channel at the lower end of the swamp. The prelim- 
inary step for reclamation consists in the removal of this ledge to 
sufficient depth to secure an outlet for the drainage waters. Drain- 
age of the lands will also probably require dredging of the channel 
of the Tahquamenon River as well as those of its tributaries, and the 
digging of additional drainage ditches. It is not fully known 
whether the lands will need tiling, but presumably a portion of them 
will. From a superficial investigation, all of these engineering 
features appear to be feasible. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 135 

108. Transportation facilities and towns. — The lands of this proj- 
ect are traversed by the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railroad 
near the southern limit of the area. Additional facilities will be 
necessary for the northern portion of the project in case of its devel- 
opment. The only town of importance within the area of the project 
is Newberry. Good railroad connections exist between Newberry 
and Sault Ste. Marie, which is not far distant. 

CUT-OVER PROJECTS. 
AU SABLE RIVER PROJECT. 

109. Location and acreage. — The lands of the Au Sable River 
project are located in the drainage basin of the Au Sable River in 
Montmorency, Oscoda, Alcona, and Iosco Counties. This tract com- 
prises a fairly compact body of land of 55,000 acres, all of which is 
owned by one party. 

110. Soils and agricultural 'possibilities. — The soils of this tract 
are variable in character, but it is thought that a sufficient acreage 
has sandy loam, clay loam, or clay soil to make a good project. Lands 
with good soils in this locality are adapted to diversified farming 
and dairying. 

111. Engineering plan and feasibility . — The reclamation of these 
lands involves drainage for some of the lowlands and brushing and 
stumping of the uplands. The cut-OA T er lands were originally mainly 
timbered with hardwood and pine. 

112. Transportation facilities and towns. — The Detroit & Mackinac 
Railroad affords connection with the town of Au Sable on the coast 
of Lake Huron and a railroad outlet to Detroit. There are numer- 
ous small towns scattered throughout the area which, with rail con- 
nections to larger cities, will afford markets for such products as are 
raised. 

CRAWFORD PROJECT. 

113. Location and acreage. — The Crawford project is located on 
the headwaters of Au Sable River in Crawford County, and contains 
approximately 14,000 acres in a fairly compact body. This land is 
owned by one party. 

114. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The topography varies 
from level to rolling, and the soil is clay loam and clay of the glacial 
morainic type. The lands are adapted to diversified farming, stock- 
raising, and dairying. 

115. Engineering plan and feasibility. — Only a small part of the 
area will need drainage. The lands were originally covered with 
hardwood and will require the usual methods of land clearing for 
reclamation. 

116. Transportation facilities and totvns. — This tract is traversed 
by the Michigan Central Railroad, and all of it lies within a few 
miles of this line. A few good highways already exist in the area. 
There are local markets in the small towns scattered through the 
area, and the Michigan Central Railroad forms a direct outlet to 
Detroit and other points. 

GLADWIN PROJECT. 

117. Location and acreage. — The Gladwin project contains ap- 
proximately 25,000 acres of land in a fairly compact body, lying 



136 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

in the upper drainage basin of the Tittabawassee River in Gladwin 
County. 

118. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The land in this area 
is mostly of a level character and the soil is apparently largely of a 
sandy character, with some areas of clay loam and clay. 

119. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The land has all been cut 
over and will need brushing and stumping. 

120. Transportation facilities and towns. — A branch of the Michi- 
gan Central Eailroad passes through the southern part of this tract 
and another branch within a short distance of the northern part of 
the tract. Highway facilities are apparently not of the best. There 
will be local markets for a portion of the farm products, and railroad 
outlets to Detroit and other points furnish facilities for outside 
markets. 

MATCHWOOD PROJECT. 

121. Location and acreage. — The Matchwood project is located on 
the headwaters of the Ontonagan River in Gogebic and Ontonagan 
Counties and contains 27,000 acres of land in a compact body, all 
owned by 41 parties in tracts varying from 1G0 to 1,000 acres. 

122. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soil consists of clay 
loam. The agricultural possibilities are considered good for the lati- 
tude. The lands of this region are adapted to the growing of small 
grains, clovers, and grasses, and to the dairying industry. 

123. Engineering plan and feasibility. — These lands are typical 
cut -over lands of hardwood interspersed with pine. The plan of re- 
clamation will therefore be the usual one applicable to the cut-over 
lands of this region. 

124. Transportation facilities and towns. — This tract is located 
close to the copper and iron ranges, which provide local markets for 
farm products. The region is contiguous to the Duluth & South 
Shore Railroad, which furnishes transportation facilities both to the 
east and west. 

MANISTEE RIVER PROJECT. 

125. Location and acreage. — This project is located in the drainage 
basin of the Manistee River in Kalkaska. Muskegon, and Wexford 
Counties, and may be divided into large reasonably compact areas. 
The total area is approximately 75,000 acres. 

126. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The portion of the proj- 
ect lying in Kalkaska County is of n rolling character, with the ex- 
ception of occasional swamp areas. The upland soils are largely 
sandy in character and the swamp soils are peat and muck. The por- 
tion of the project in Wexford and Missaukee Counties has a level to 
rolling topography, and the soils are sand, clay loam, and clay. The 
lands of the region are adapted to diversified farming, stock raising, 
and dairying. 

127. Engineering plan and feasibility. — Small areas of swamp land 
will require drainage, which can generally be provided through out- 
lets into Manistee River. The remainder of the project will require 
clearing. The natural timber on a portion of the area consisted of 
hardwoods; the remainder consisted of timbers prevalent on the 
sandy soils of this region. 

128. Transportation facilities and towns. — The transportation fa- 
cilities should be adequate, as the lands are situated between the Pere 



DEVELOPMENT OE UNUSED LANDS. 



137 



Marquette and Ann Arbor Railroads, and there are numerous high- 
ways throughout the area. Local towns furnish markets for a large 
part of the products, and transportation facilities exist for the ship- 
ment of such products as can not be consumed locally. 



STURGEON RIVER PROJECT. 



129. Location and acreage. — The Sturgeon River project is located 
in Cheboygan, Montmorency, and Otsego Counties in the upper drain- 
age basins of the Sturgeon and Pigeon Rivers. This project contains 
approximately 30,000 acres of land, lying in a fairly compact body, 
owned by one party. 

130. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — Most of the area has a 
rolling topography and the soil consists of sand, clay loam, and clay. 
The area is adapted to diversified farming, stock raising, and dairy- 
ing. 

131. Engineering plan and feasibility. — Practically all of this area 
was originally timbered with hardwoods and there are very small 
acreages within the tract that require drainage. The reclamation will 
consist of land clearing. 

132. Transportation facilities and towns. — The Michigan Central 
Railroad passes through this tract near its western side and also has 
a branch extending out into the eastern portion of the project. The 
local markets are adequate for caring for much of the farm products 
raised here. The Michigan Central Railroad furnishes an outlet to 
Detroit and other markets. 

Table 15. — Lands needing drainage in Michigan. 



Project. 



Carp River 

Cvr 

Menominee 

Saginaw 

Senev 

Tahquamenon. 
Other areas... 



Estimated total in State. 



County. 



Mackinac 

Marquette 

Menominee 

Saginaw and Bay . . . 

Schoolcrait 

Luce and Chippewa. 
Various 



Acreage. 



120, 000 

36, 000 

.T;.000 

9't, 000 

207, 000 

100, 000 

4,851,000 



5, 434, 000 



1 Total for State furnished by Drainage Investigations, Bureau of Public Roads, U. S. Department of 
Agriculture, and includes lakes in the northern peninsula, but does not include 1,586,000 acres of clayey 
land in this peninsula, much of which will need drainage for best results. The acreage for the southern 
peninsula, comprising a little over half of the total, is the acreage estimated to be reclaimable. 

Table 16. — Agricultural cut-over land in Michigan. 



X 

Project. 


County. 


Acreage 
suitable 
for agri- 
culture. 


Estimated 
acreage 

available 

for com- 

munity 

settlement . 


Au Sable 


Alcona, Iosco, Oscoda, and Mont- 
morency. 
Crawford 


55, 000 

14,000 
25, 000 


30, 000 


Crawford 


10, 000 


Gladwin 


Gladwin 


10.000 


Manistee 


Kalkaska, Muskegon, and Wexford... 
G ogebic-Ontonagan 


75, 000 25. 000 


Matchwood 


27,000 
30, 000 


20, 000 


Sturgeon 


Cheboygan, Montmorency, and Otsego 


20,000 






Total 


226,000 
3, 974, 000 


115,000 


Other areas 


Various 










Estimated total in State 


4,200,000 











Note. — Probably about 2,000,000 acres available for community settlement in all. 



138 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



Table 17. — Classified acreages of unoccupied cut-over lands in various counties 

m cut-over regions of Michigan. 



Area of 

unoccupied 

cut-over 

lands. 



Area most 
suitable 
for refor- 
estation. 



Area most 
suitable 
for agri- 
culture. 



Area most 

suitable 

for 

grazing. 



Proportion 
of agri- 
cultural 
lands in 

large hold- 
ings. 



Prevailing 

price of 

cut-over 

lands. 



Upper peninsula: 

Chippewa 

Mackinac 

Luce 

Alger 

Schoolcraft... 

Delta 

Marquette 

Menominee. 

Dickinson 

Iron 

Baraga 

Houghton 

Ontonagon. . . 
Gogebic. 



Total. 



Lower peninsula: 

Ottawa 

Cheboygan 

Presque Lsle. . . . 

Emmet 

Charlevoix 

Leelanau 

Antrim 

Ostego .... 

Montmorency.]. 

Alpena ' 

Alcona 

Oscoda 

Crawford 

K alkaska 

Grand Traverse. 

Benzie 

Manistee ".". 

Wetford 

Missaukee 

Roscommon 

Ogemaw 

Arenac 

Gladwin 

Clare 

Osceola 

Lake 

Mason 

Newavgo 

Muskegon 

Midland 

Oceana 

Mecosta 

Montcalm 



Total 

Grand total . 



Acres. 
350, 000 
446, 147 
350, 000 
390, 000 
500, 000 
400, 000 
400, 000 
469, 000 
450, 000 
450, 000 

75, 000 
204, S00 
350, 000 

10, 000 



4, 844, 947 



40,000 
132, 240 
150,000 

80, 000 
138, 000 

40, 000 
100, 000 
130, 000 
150, 000 
111,000 
150,000 

60, 000 
350, 000 

90, 000 
120, 000 

77, 000 
100, 000 
150,000 
120,000 
150,000 
121,000 

90, 000 
100,000 

85, 000 

21, 920 
260, 000 
130,000 
200, 000 
130,000 
150,000 

40, 000 

75,000 

55, 000 



3,896,160 



8,741,107 



Acres. 
100,000 
183, 647 
75, 000 
100, 000 
200, 000 
50, 000 
100,000 
45,000 J 
25; 000 
20,000 j 
25,000 i 
32, 000 
10, 000 



965, 647 



20, 000 
15,000 
30, 000 
24, 000 
15, 000 



Acres. 
160,000 
195,000 
175,000 
180,000 
100, 000 
300, 000 
150, 000 
324, 000 
300,000 
300, 000 
50, 000 
140, 800 
150, 000 
9,500 



2,534,300 



Acres. 

90, 000 

67, 500 

100, 000 

110,000 

200, 000 

50, 000 

150,000 

100,000 

125, 000 

130, 000 



32,000 

190,000 

300 



Per cent. 
95 
75 
80 
75 
85 
75 
90 
50 
85 
95 
90 
90 



1,344,800 



10,000 
26, 000 
30, 000 
22, 000 
45, 000 
15,000 
25, 000 
50, 000 
^5,000 
26, 900 
30, 000 
60, 000 
35, 000 
30,000 
24, 200 
18,000 
10,000 
1 7, 000 
5,000 
60, 000 
70, 000 



40,000 
30, 000 
15,000 
50, 000 
20. 000 



5,000 

88, 160 

75, 000 

48, 000 

70, 000 

i 40, 000 

50, 000 

52, 000 

60, 000 

33, 300 

45, 000 

35, 000 

175,000 

18, 000 

60, 000 

39, 700 

45, 000 

10, 000 

85,000 

45, 000 

36, 300 

27, 000 

40, 000 

25, 500 

5,000 

50, 000 

i 60, 000 

100, 000 

1 90, 000 

45, 000 

10, 000 

i 25, 000 

135,000 



15, 000 
29, 080 
45, 000 
8,000 
53, 000 



40,000 
52, 000 
60, 000 
55, 500 
60, 000 
10, 000 
150,000 
22, 000 
15,000 
10, 400 
25, 000 
80, 000 



75, 000 
60, 500 
45, 000 
50, 000 
42, 500 
11, 920 
150,000 



100, 000 



75, 000 
15,000 



913,300 1,627,960 



1,878,947 4,162,260 



1, 354, 900 



2, 699, 700 



1 Squally suited for grazing. 
MINNESOTA. 



95 



66 
80 
40 
20 
20 
75 
80 
30 
40 
50 
25 
40 
10 
70 
10 
75 
40 
99 
85 
50 
70 
50 
75 
60 
10 
20 
80 



$10. 00-$30. 00 

1.00- 10.00 

2. 50- 20. 00 

8. 00- 20. 00 

7.50 

10. 00- 15. 00 

5. 00- 20. 00 

10.00- 15.00 

5.00- 15.00 

20.00 

6.00- 10.00 

5. 00- 20. 00 

10. 00- 20. 00 

15.00 



30 
20 
25 
20 
20 



15. 
10. 

10. 

5. 

S. 

10. 

5. 
10. 
10. 
10. 



00- 30. 00 
00- 20. 00 
00- 20.00 
00- 20. 00 
00- 15.00 
00- 25. 00 
00- 15. 00 
00- 15.00 
00- 17. 00 
00- 15. 00 

12.00 

15.00 

10.00 
00- 10. 00 
00- 15. 00 

10.00 

00- 20. 00 

5.00 

00- 15. 00 

18.00 
00- 20. 00 
00- 20. 00 

15.00 
00- 20. 00 
00- 10. 00 
00- 15.00 
00- 20. 00 

9.00 
00- 12. 50 
00- 15.00 
00- 20. 00 
00- 15.00 

15.00 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 



133. Scope and results of investigations. — The cut- 
nesota as well as a large part of unreclaimed swamp 
are located in 20 of the counties in the northeastern 
partly within the drainage area of Hudson Baj 7 , 
drainage area of Lake Superior, and partly within 
of the Mississippi River. Nearly all of the land 



over lands of Mill- 
lands of the State 
part of the State, 
partly within the 
the drainage area 
in this section of 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 139 

the State was originally timber land interspersed with occasional 
open swamps, but the most of the merchantable timber has been 
removed, so that the greater part of the entire area consists of cut- 
over lands and open swamps. Field investigations have disclosed 
the fact that there are approximately 8,770,000 acres of unoccupied 
cut-over lands in this part of Minnesota. Of this acreage about 
5,350,000 acres are classed as suitable for agricultural purposes and 
678,000 acres for grazing purposes. (See Table 20, p. 143.) Two 
large tracts of these cut-over lands have been selected for investiga- 
tion and will be described in detail in the following pages under 
the titles of Kettle River and Whiteface Eiver projects. Numerous 
other large suitable areas can also be selected without difficulty. 
The total estimated unreclaimed swamp area of the State, which is 
largely concentrated in the northern part, amounts to 6,828,000 acres. 
( See Table 18, p. 143.) A large amount of general drainage work has 
already been done, but much additional general work as well as detailed 
work is necessary in order to accomplish complete reclamation of 
these swamp areas. Four large swamp areas were selected for investi- 
gation, and these have been designated as the Koochiching. Red 
Lake, Roseau River, and St. Louis River projects. The St. Louis 
River project is situated in an old glacial lake bed in the St. Louis 
River drainage basin. No detailed investigations have yet been 
made of this area. The remaining three large swamp areas referred 
to have been investigated and will be described in detail in the 
following pages. 

134. Offers mid prices of land. — Several large tracts of cut-over 
lands in Minnesota were voluntarily offered for soldier-settlement 
purposes at from $3 to $20 per acre. One desirable tract was priced 
at $8 per acre and another at $10 per acre, and it is considered 
certain that no difficulty will be found in securing as many large 
holdings of suitable land in this State for development for cut -over 
projects as the Government may wish to undertake. Probably over 
60 per cent of the cut-over lands of Minnesota are owned in large 
holdings and a very large part of these lands is for sale, prices in 
general ranging from $3 to $25 per acre. 

135. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils of northern 
Minnesota all belong either to the glacial province or to the glacial 
lake province. A large percentage of the swamp lands belong to the 
latter province. The subsoil in these old lake beds of this province 
varies from fine clay up to pure sand, but practically the whole 
swampy region is surfaced with peat and muck soils of varying 
depths. Some of these soils are readily reducible to agricultural 
uses, but others contain raw and undecomposed peat difficult readily 
to reduce to agricultural use. Outside of the swamps the soils con- 
sist of morainic gravels, outwash sands, and various classes of loams 
and clays of the glacial types. The precipitation varies from 25 
inches on the western edge of the area to about 36 inches on the 
eastern edge, and a large percentage of this falls during the growing- 
season. There is seldom any injury either from extreme drouth or 
from extreme precipitation. The winters are cold and dry and the 
summers warm. The region is well adapted to the growing of 
grasses, clovers, small grains, vegetables, and hardy fruits. Grasses 
and clovers are especially at home here, and dairying is one of the 
most promising farm industries. 



140 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

LANDS NEEDING DRAINAGE. 
KOOCHICHING PROJECT. 

136. Location and acreage. — The Koochiching project is situated 
in the northern part of Koochiching County, in the drainage basins 
of Black and Rapid Rivers. It contains approximately 200,000 
acres of swamp land, about 90,000 acres of which are still owned by 
the United States. 

137. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The surface soil of prac- 
tically the entire area consists of deep peat underlaid with a subsoil 
either of clay or sand. Owing to the depth of the peat, the extreme 
northern latitude, and the timbered character of the land, this tract 
is not considered suitable for development for agricultural use at the 
present time. 

138. Engineering plan and feasibility. — A general investigation of 
this area was made which indicates that the scheme of drainage will 
involve the use of the existing channels of Black and Rapid Rivers 
for main outlets and of connecting drainage ditches extending into 
the broad, flat swamp areas. Although the land in general is flat, it 
appears to have sufficient slope for good drainage. 

139. Transportation facilities and towns. — The transportation 
facilities for the lands of this project are not satisfactory. The 
Minnesota, Dakota & Western Railroad extends from Nakoda, a 
point on the Minnesota & International Falls Railroad, to Loman, at 
the extreme eastern border of the project. An extension of this rail- 
road through the project, with a spur from some point on the Minne- 
sota & International Falls Railroad northward into the project area, 
will be needed for the purpose of giving needed transportation facili- 
ties. The only town now with railroad service within reach of this 
project is Loman. 

RED LAKE PROJECT. 

140. Location and acreage. — The lands of the Red Lake project lie 
in the Chippewa Indian Reservation, in Beltrami County, along the 
Red Lake River west of Red Lake and north of the lake, partly 
within the drainage area of the lake and partly within the drainage 
area of Rapid River, a tributary of Rainy River. The total area of 
the project is approximately 440,000 acres, of which 275,000 lie 
within the present Red Lake Indian Reservation and 165,000 outside 
of the reservation north of Red Lake. Of the 165,000 acres north of 
the lake, about 110,000 acres lie within the drainage basin of the lake 
and 55,000 acres within the drainage basin of Rapid River. The 
lands within the Indian reservation are the property of the Chip- 
pewa Indians. The area lying without this reservation is public 
land. Some of these Government lands have been partly drained by 
the State of Minnesota and are subject to drainage taxes under the 
Volstead Act of 1898. 

141. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — In the area north of Red 
Lake the surface soil consists of deep peat and the subsoil of either 
clay, sand, or gravel. About one-third of this area is timbered ; the 
remainder consists of open swamp land. In the Indian reservation 
the lands are of the more open type, and the peat is shallower and the 
underlying subsoil is more generally of a clayey character. Con- 
siderable question exists at the present time from an economical 
standpoint as to the successful agricultural development of the deep 



development of unused lands. 141 

peat areas. The area within the Indian reservation, where the peat 
deposits are shallower and where the subsoil conditions are more 
favorable, has better agricultural possibilities. Lands lying to the 
west of the Indian reservation of similar character have been drained 
and are now proving valuable agricultural lands. 

142. Engineering plan and feasibility. — A general field investiga- 
tion was made of this project and studies were made from existing 
data as to plans for development. Drainage of these lands will 
require the lowering and controlling of the outlet of Red Lake 
into Red Lake River, the improving of Red Lake River channel, and 
the construction of necessary drainage ditches through the lands. 
The lands lying in the Rapid River drainage basin will of course 
have their natural outlet through Rapid River and drainage ditches 
connected with it. From an engineering viewpoint the plan of recla- 
mation appears feasible so far as present investigations indicate. 

143. Transportation facilities and towns. — The present transpor- 
tation facilities of this project are inadequate. An extension of the 
Thief Falls-Torgenson electric line eastward into the project area 
and an extension of a line from the Minnesota & International Falls 
Railroad westward are necessary. There are several inland towns 
of small importance scattered throughout the area of the project, 
but the development of towns along the suggested railroad exten- 
sions will be a necessary part of the proposed development of the 
project. 

KOSEATJ -RIVER PROJECT. 

144. Location and acreage. — The Roseau River project is located 
in Roseau County along the Roseau River, adjacent to Canada, 
and contains approximately 110,000 acres of swamp and overflow 
lands. About 60,000 acres of these lands have already been partially 
reclaimed by general drainage ditches, and about 50,000 acres are 
entirely without present drainage facilities. Fifty per cent or more 
of the lands are owned by the State of Minnesota. 

145. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The surface soil consists 
of peat, varying from 1 to 3 feet in depth, and the subsoils consist 
of clsij with occasional beds of sand and gravel interspersed. The 
agricultural possibilities from a soil viewpoint are good, but they 
are limited in the character of crops adaptable to the northern 
location of the lands. However, small grains, grasses, clovers, and 
short-season vegetables can be grown in this area. 

146. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The plan of reclamation 
involves the diversion of a portion of the flood flow of Roseau River 
into Two River, thence into the Red River, and the construction of 
a system of drains north of Roseau River. The lower end of Roseau 
River passes through Canada before entering Red River, hence 
the project assumes an international aspect. A general reconnais- 
sance of this project and a survey for locating a feasible channel 
for diversion of the Roseau River into Two River, together with a 
survey of the Two River channel to i^s conjunction with Red River, 
have been made. The results of the survey indicate that the pro- 
posed diversion of Roseau River is a feasible proposition. 

147. Transportation facilities and towns. — A branch of the Great 
Northern Railroad extending from Thief River Falls to Warroad 
passes along the southeastern !-ide of the project. Additional rail- 
road service within the project area will be needed in case of its de- 



142 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

velopment. The principal towns within reach of the project are 
Greenbush and Roseau, and additional towns will be necessary for 
successful colonization of the project. 

CUT-OVER LANDS. 
KETTLE B1VEB PROJECT. 

148. Location, and acreage. — The Kettle River project is located on 
the headwaters of Kettle River in Aitkin and Carlton Counties and 
contains approximately 89,000 acres of land, mainly held in three 
large ownerships. 

149. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The western portion of 
the project is comparatively level, needs drainage, and has a peat or 
muck soil. The eastern part is rolling upland and has a sandy loam 
soil. The lands are adapted to diversified farming, particularly to 
the production of potatoes, small grains, clovers, and grasses. The 
region is well suited to the dairy industry. 

150. Engineering plan and feasibility. — Some drainage work of a 
general character has already been done on the lowlands, but an ad- 
ditional and more detailed drainage system must be provided. The 
remainder of the project will require brushing and stumping along 
the lines proposed for the development of such lands. The low- 
lands consist partly of grass-covered swamps and partly of swamps 
covered with tamarack, cedar, and spruce trees. The upland areas 
were originally mostly timbered with hardwoods and white pines. 

151. Transportation facilities and towns. — The lands of this proj- 
ect are accessible from both the Soo line and the Northern Pacific 
railroads, and they are fairly well provided with highways. Local 
markets exist for a portion of the products. The remainder thereof 
will find good markets in Duluth, St. Paul, and Minneapolis. 

WHITEFACE RIVER PROJECT. 

152. Location and acreage. — The Whiteface River project contains 
approximately 48,000 acres of land in St. Louis County, mainly 
surrounding the headwaters of Whiteface River and Bay Creek, a 
branch of Cloquet River. The lands of this project are mainly 
owned by two parties. 

153. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — A considerable portion 
of the land is comparatively level and of swampy type. The re- 
mainder consists of leA 7 el rolling uplands. In the swamp area the 
surface soils consist mostly of peat and muck. The soils on the 
uplands are clay loam. These lands are considered to be suitable 
for general farming purposes, and are particularly adapted to the 
growing of potatoes, small grains, grasses, and clovers. Dairying 
is a promising industry. 

154. Engineering plan and feasibility. — Although detailed inves- 
tigations have not been made as to the possibility of drainage of 
the lowlands, general observations indicate that there will be no 
difficulty in securing the proper drainage of these lands. The low- 
lands consist either of open grass marshes or original growth of 
cedar, tamarack, and spruce, or have been cut over. The uplands 
were originally timbered with hardwoods and white pines. The 
usual methods of brushing and stumping will of course be necessary 
for reclamation of the uplands. 



DEVELOPMENT OE UNUSED LANDS. 



148 



155. Transportation facilities and towns. — The Duluth, Winnipeg 
& Pacific Railroad and also the Duluth & Northwestern Railroad 
pass through this tract. As yet there are very meager highway 
facilities. The local iron industries and the towns of Duluth and 
Superior will provide outlets for the produce. 

Table 18. — Lands needing drainage in Minnesota. 



Project. 



County. 



Bois de Sioux. 
Koochiching.. 

Red Lake 

Roseau 

St. Louis 

Other areas . . . 



Estimated total in State. 



Wilkin and Traverse. 

Koochiching 

Beltrami-Clearwater . 

Roseau-Kittson 

St. Louis 

Various 



Acreage. 



2.5,000 
200,000 
440,000 
110,000 
200,000 
5, 853, 000 



16,828,000 



1 Total for State furnished by Drainage Investigations, Bureau of Public Roads, TJ. S. Department of 
Agriculture. 

Table 19. — Agricultural cut-over lands in Minnesota. 



Project. 



Countv. 



Acreage 
suitable 
for agri- 
culture. 



Estimated 
acreage 

available 
for com- 
munity 
settlement. 



Kettle River 

Whiteface River. 



Carleton- Aitkin . 
St. Louis 



Other areas 

Estimated total in State. 



Various . 



89,000 
48,000 



137,000 
5,163,000 



5,300,000 



45, 000 
25,000 



70,000 



Table 20. — Classification of unoccupied cut-over lands in various counties in 

cut-over regions of Minnesota. 



Countv 



Cook 

Lake 

St. Louis 

Koochiching 
Clearwater. . 

Itasca 

Carlton 

Aitkin 

Cass 

Hubbard.... 

Becker. 

Otter Tail... 

Wadena 

Crow Wing. 

Pine 

Kanabec 

Mille Lacs... 

Morrison 

Todd 

Beltrami 

Total. 



Area of 

unoccupied 

cut-over 

lands. 



Acres. 

889,351 

1, 220, 892 

1,497,231 

5,000 

25,000 

1,000,000 

184,000 

1,047,600 

'780,009 

280, 000 

250,000 

57, 500 

115,000 

347, 000 

200, 000 

150,000 

195,000 

268, 569 

55,000 

200,000 



8, 767, 143 



Area most 
suitable 
for refor- 
estation. 



Acres. 
533, 611 
308,355 
726,667 



10,000 
15,000 



65,000 

60,000 

50,000 

3, 500 

5,000 

197, 000 

25,000 

5, 0C0 

8,000 

40, 285 

3,000 

50,000 



Area most 
suitable 
for agri- 
culture. 



Area most 
suitable 

for 
grazing 



2,105,^18 



Acres. 

Ill, 870 

456, 263 

770, 564 

4,000 

15,000 

900,000 

100,000 

1,047,600 

665,000 

120,000 

75, 000 

45,000 

90,000 

150,000 

175,000 

130,000 

147, 000 

134, 284 

47,000 

100,000 



5, 349, 581 



Acres. 



1,000 
10,000 
90,000 
69,000 



50,000 

100,000 

125,000 

9,000 

20, 000 



Proportion 
of agricul- 
tural lands 
in large 
holdings. 



15,000 
40,000 
94, 000 
5,000 
50,000 



678,000 



Per cent. 
80 
70 
65 
90 
95 
50 
25 
25 
72 
80 
70 
30 
30 
75 
25 
60 
50 
30 
25 
25 



Prevailing 

price of 

cut-over 

lands. 



$3. 00- 
3.00- 
2.00- 



12. 00 
10. 00- 



4.00- 
12. SO- 
10. 00- 

8. 00- 
15.00- 
12. 00- 

15. 00- 

15. 00- 

8.00- 



45. 00 
-10. 00 
-20. 00 

5.00 
10.00 
-20.00 
-20. 00 

7.50 
12. CO 

8.00 
•25.00 
25. 00 
25.00 
15. 00 
25. 00 
20. 09 
17.50 
25. 00 
25.00 
15.00 



144 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

MISSOURI. 
GENERAL STATEMENT. 

_ 156. Scope and results of investigations. — There are large possi- 
bilities in Missouri for development of both cut-over lands and 
lands needing drainage. The bottom-land areas of the Mississippi 
and Missouri Eivers and their tributaries furnish large acreages of 
lands either originally swampy or subject to overflow, while the 
timbered region of the Ozark Mountains contains very large acre- 
ages of cut-over lands. The lands needing drainage were investi- 
gated and reported on in three groups: The northeastern group, 
covering the Mississippi Kiver and its tributaries between Keokuk 
and St. Louis; the southeastern group, covering the Mississippi 
Eiver and its tributaries south of St. Louis ; and the Missouri Kiver 
group, covering the Missouri Eiver and its tributaries. These investi- 
gations indicate that the first group contains approximately 100,000 
acres, the second group approximately 900,000 acres, and the third 
group approximately 1,000,000 acres. These figures indicate a total 
unreclaimed and partially reclaimed area of 2,000,000 acres, not 
including farm lands needing tiling. Four large areas of these lands 
comprising about 910,000 acres, are considered worthy of further 
investigation, and it is probable that additional study will disclose 
other large areas. Three of these areas lie in the lowland section of 
southeastern Missouri, and one of them lies in the Mississippi Val- 
ley near the mouth of the Cuivre Eiver. Each of these areas will be 
taken up and discussed in detail in subsequent pages of this report. 
In the line of unoccupied cut-over lands, there are over 13,000,000 
acres in Missouri in the Ozark region, of which approximately 
3,000,000 acres are considered to be suitable for agriculture and 
7,000,000 for grazing. (See Table 23, p. 148.) Although no definite 
cut-over project was selected for investigation in this region, yet it 
is known that several suitable areas can be found. 

157. Offers and prices of land. — Numerous offers of small tracts 
of land and several offers of large tracts were voluntarily made at 
prices ranging from $5 to $12.50 per acre for lands in the Ozark 
region and $20 to $100 in the lowland region of southeastern Mis- 
souri. As a general proposition the unimproved cut-over lands 
or the Ozark region are valued at from $5 to $10 per acre. Ap- 
proximately one-half of the area of cut-over lands of the Ozark 
region and a little smaller proportion of those of the lowlands of 
southeastern Missouri are held in large ownerships. 

158. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils of the Ozark 
Mountain region belong to the upland portion of the limestone 
valley and upland province and are of a residual character, having 
been formed by the decomposition of the underlying cherty lime- 
stone; or, more limitedly, of sandstone, shale, and chert-free lime- 
stone. Surrounding the higher areas of the Ozarks is a bordering 
strip of soils moderately free from chert. Within this area in the 
higher altitudes the soils contain large quantities of chert. The 
cherty soils of the higher altitudes have a lower agricultural value 
than the chert-free soils of the lower altitudes. In texture, these 
soils are almost universally silty, while those of the subsoils are silty 
or silty clay in character. Leaching processes have, in a large meas- 



t 

DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 145 

ure, caused a deficiency of lime and phosphorus in these soils. The 
Ozark region is adapted to fruit growing, diversified farming, dairy- 
ing, and stock raising. The soils of the lands needing drainage are 
mainly of an alluvial character and consist of clays, silt loam, loam, 
and sandy loam, and are productive, as a rule. 

LANDS NEEDING DRAINAGE. 
BLACK RIVER PROJECT. 

159. Location and acreage. — The Black River project is located in 
southeastern Missouri in the Black River and St. Francis River 
Valleys and comprises approximately 425,000 acres of land. Of this 
area about 222,000 acres are estimated to be available for settlement ; 
the remainder of the area is occupied. The whole area has been 
included in various drainage districts, but only very imperfect 
reclamation has been accomplished. About 1,085,000 acres in the 
valleys of the Black and St. Francis Rivers in Arkansas are in- 
separably connected with the Missouri area in any intelligent scheme 
of reclamation. Of this area about 519,000 acres are available for 
settlement. The total project area in both States is therefore about 
1,510,000 acres, of which 741,000 acres are available for settlement. 

160. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The lands in this project 
are low lying and flat, sloping toward the southwest at the rate of 
1 to 2 feet to the mile. The water channels are crooked and inade- 
quate and the lands are subject to overflow at high-water stages. 
The soils are a result of the overflow of the various rivers and con- 
sist of a fertile silt loam, with scattered areas of white clay suited 
only for rice culture. The agricultural possibilities in general are 
excellent. Cotton, corn, small grains, and grasses are the principal 
crops t of this region. 

161. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The plan of reclamation 
consists in the construction of a reservoir of 600,000 to 800,000 acre- 
feet capacity adjacent to the foothills connecting the Black and St. 
Francis Rivers or of individual reservoirs on each of these rivers in 
the hills ; the discharge of the stored waters either through the Little 
River drainage district floodway into the Mississippi River below 
Cape Girardeau or through a channel from the reservoir to Cache 
River, thence into the White River, or by liberating the flood waters 
gradually into St. Francis and Black Rivers. Preliminary investi- 
gations indicate this plan of reclamation to be feasible. This is a 
very complicated project, however, and run-off records are inade- 
quate for a proper study of the situation. Further investigations are 
therefore necessary to determine the economical feasibility of the 
suggested plans. In their native state these lands were all forested 
with red gum, oak, and ash on the dryer areas and with tupelo gum 
and cypress on the wetter areas. Clearing is therefore a part of the 
required reclamation scheme. 

162. Transportation facilities and towns. — Transportation by 
means of the Missouri Pacific and St. Louis & San Francisco Rail- 
roads and branches thereof are excellent. None of the land of the 
project is more than one or two hours' wagon haul from a railroad 
station. Transportation through the Mississippi River by means of 

141901— H. Doc. 262, 66-1—^-10 



146 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

large canals into the project area is also a possibility. There are 
numerous towns of. considerable size and importance scattered 
throughout the area, and good transportation facilities, connecting 
the area with both Memphis and St. Louis, exist. 

ELK CHUTE PROJECT. 

163. Location and acreage. — The Elk Chute project consists of 
about 340,000 acres of land lying in Dunklin and Pemiscot Counties 
in the lower stretch of Little River Valley and east thereof to the 
Mississippi River. Of this area about 125,000 acres are still un- 
cleared and will undoubtedly be available in a large measure for set- 
tlement. The lands referred to now include six drainage districts 
already organized but with drainage works inadequate for the com- 
plete reclamation of the lands within their boundaries. 

164. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soil in the western 
part of Elk Chute project consists of clay loam, while that in the re- 
maining portion of the area consists of fine sandy loam. The clay 
loam is excellent soil, and the sandy loam is also fertile, but in some 
parts of the area it contains sandy areas of less valuable quality. 
Corn and wheat do well on the clay-loam soils, and cotton, corn, peas y 
and melons do well on the sandy loams. The agricultural possibili- 
ties of the area are considered good. 

165. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The entire area of this 
project has adequate levee protection along the Mississippi River, 
with a connecting spur extending to Sikeston Ridge. For the eastern 
portion of the land the existing drainage works need amplifying by 
enlarging and deepening the drainage ditches and by extending and 
enlarging the outlets. About 60,000 acres of the area adjacent to 
Little River require levee protection from high-water stages of 
Little River and internal drainage with pumping facilities for use 
during high stages of Little River. The unoccupied lands of the 
area are timbered with the species of trees prevalent in this region, 
and the lands will, therefore, require clearing as well as protection £ 
from overflow. 

166. Transportation facilities and towns. — Branches of the Mis- 
souri Pacific and St. Louis & San Francisco Railroads serve the lands 
of this project, and they are within reasonable distance of the Missis- 
sippi River where transportation by navigation is available. There 
is a number of small towns scattered throughout the project which, 
together with St. Louis and Memphis, furnish outlets for produce. 

NEW MADRID PROJECT. 

167. General statement. — There are approximately 100,000 acres 
of land in southern Mississippi and eastern New Madrid Counties 
that require additional reclamation. The present inadequate drain- 
age systems need supplementing with intercepting canals, collection 
ditches, and pumping plants to care for internal drainage at high- 
water stages. The lands of this project are now behind good levees, 
protecting them from overflow from the Mississippi River. The 
cost of reclamation probably will be high owing to the necessity of 
the use of pumping plants for disposing of the drainage waters. It 
is estimated that approximately 30,000 acres of these lands might be 
available for settlement. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



147 



ST. CHARLES pkoject. 



108. Location and acreage. — St. Charles project comprises lands 
in the Mississippi River bottom on the west side of the river ex- 
pending from a few miles above the channel of Bobbs Creek to a 
short distance below the channel of Dardenne Creek. The whole 
tract covers about 45,000 acres of land subject to overflow, now 
mostly under under cultivation but seriously hampered by occasional 
high-water stages. A portion of the area is in the Dardenne-Peruque 
drainage district. Further investigations are necessary to deter- 
mine whether any of the lands will be available at reasonable prices 
for settlement. ♦ 

169. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils of this project 
consist of fine sandy loam near the streams and of silty clay or 
gumbo in level or depressed areas, with silty loam areas lying be- 
tween the other two classes. When properly drained, these soils are 
suitable for the production of corn, wheat, oats, clover, timothy, and 
alfalfa. With adequate drainage the lands of the entire area are 
considered to- have good agricultural possibilities. 

170. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The plan of reclamation 
consists in building levees along the Mississippi River and up the 
Cuivre River, and Bobbs, Peru que, and Dardenne Creeks, providing 
internal drainage ditches with outlets through the levees and possi- 
bly also installing pumping equipment for handling drainage water 
during high-water stages. 

171. Transportation facilities and towns. — Railroad facilities are 
supplied through the St. Paul-St. Louis line of the Chicago. Burling- 
ton & Quincy Railroad and the St. Louis-Kansas City branch of the 
Wabash Railroad. This tract of land is located close to St. Louis, 
which furnishes an excellent outlet for the crops produced. 



MISSOURI ETVER PROJECTS. 



172. General statement. — Along the Missouri River nnd its tribu- 
taries there are a great many areas needing drainage, The pre- 
liminary investigations indicate the existence of as much as 1,000,000 
acres of land here that either have not been reclaimed or have been 
very imperfectly drained. However, the lands are mostly not 
swampy in character but are subject to overflow in wet seasons, and 
are generally otherwise occupied and cultivated. Further investiga- 
tions should be made here to determine the location and feasibility 
/)f projects and the availability of the lands for settlement. 

Table 21. — Lands needing drainage in Missouri. 



Projects. 


County. 


Acreage. 


Black River 


Butler ; Stoddard, Dunklin.. 
Dunklin, Pemiscotl 


425, 000 


Elk Chute 


340, 000 


New Madrid .... 


New Madrid 


100, 000 


St. Charles 


St. Charles, Lincoln 


45, 000 


Missouri River 


Several 


1, 000, 000 


Other areas . . 




90, 000 


Estimated total in State 




2, 000, 000 









148 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



Table 22. — Agricultural cut-over lands in Missouri. 



Project. 



County. 



Acreage 
suitable 
lor agri- 
culture. 



Ozark Region 

Estimated total in State. 




3,000,000 
3, 000, 000 



Estimated acreage available for community settlement unknown; probably about 1,500,000 acres avail- 
able foi community settlement. 

Table 23. — Classified acreages of unoccupied cut-over lands in various counties 
in Ozark cut-over regions of Missouri. 



Counties. 


Area of 

unoccupied 

cut-over 

lands. 


Area most 
suitable for 
reforesta- 
tion. 


Area most 
suitable for 
agriculture. 


! 
1 

1 

Area most 

suitable for 

grazing. 


Propor- 
tion 
of agri- 
cultural 
lands in 

large 
holdings. 


Pre- 
vailing 
price of 
cut-over 

lands. 


Berry 


A cres. 

284, 000 
252, 000 
240, 000 
339, 000 
140, 003 
295, 000 
116,000 
195, 000 
120,000 
300, 000 

89, 000 
193,000 
300, 000 
364,000 
285, 000 
203, 000 
123, 000 
. 100,000 
145, 000 
410, 000 
305, 000 
134, 000 
263, 000 
312, 000 

98, 000 
231, 000 
252, 000 
203, 000 
133, 000 

72, 000 
237, 030 
179,000 
383, 000 
133, 000 
351,000 
148,000 
303, 000 
153, 000 
254, 000 
471)093 
323, 000 
203, 000 
197, 033 
202, 000 
571, 003 
237, 000 
350,000 
537, 000 
117, 000 
403, 003 
378, 003 
195, 000 
268, 000 


Acres. 
56,800 

37, 800 
30. 000 
50, 850 
21, 900 
73,750 
17,400 
48, 750 
18, 000 
72, 000 
13, 350 
38, 600 
72, 000 
72, 800 
57, 000 
40, 000 
30, 750 
25, 000 
29, 090 
82, 000 
70, 250 
2':-., 800 
52, 600 
(12, 400 
24, 500 
57, 750 
03, 000 
41, 200 
20, 600 
14, 400 
47, 400 
35, 800 
77, 209 
20, 600 
87, 750 
29, 600 
00, 000 
22, 950 
50, 800 

117.750 
64, 600 
40, 600 
49, 250 
50, 5W 

142, 750 
59, 250 
87, 509 
80, 550 
17, 550 

103, 750 
94, 500 
29, 250 
40, 200 


A cres. 

142. 000 

151) 200 

144, 000 

203, 400 

87, 600 

147, 500 

09, 600 

97, 500 

72, 000 

180, 000 

53, 400 

96, 500 

180, 000 

182, 0Q0 

142, 500 

101, 500 

61, 500 

50, 000 

72, 500 

205,000 

122,000 

67, 000 

131,500 

156,030 

39, 200 

92, 400 

100, 800 

82, 400 

53, 200 

28, 800 

94, S00 

89, 500 

154,403 

53, 200 

140,400 

59, 200 

121,200 

91, 800 

127,090 

188,400 

129, 200 

81, 200 

78, 800 

80, 800 

228, 403 

94 800 

140, 000 

268, 500 

70. 203 

161, 200 

151, 200 

97, 500 

134, 000 


Acres. 

85, 200 

63, 000 

60, 000 

84,750 

30, 500 

73, 750 

29, 000 

48, 750 

30, 000 

108, 000 

22, 250 

57, 900 

108, 000 

109, 200 

85, 500 

60, 900 

30, 750 

25, 000 

43, 500 

123, 000 

103, 750 

40, 200 

78, 900 

93,000 

34, 300 

80,850 

88, 200 

82, 400 

53.200 

28, 800 

94, 890 

53, 700 

154, 400 

53.200 

122, 850 

59, 200 

121,200 

38, 250 

70, 200 

104, 850 

129, 200 

81, 200 

68, 950 

70, 700 

199, 850 

82, 950 

122. 500 

187, 950 

29, 250 

141.050 

132, 300 

68, 250 

93, 800 


Per cent. 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 


$5-10 


Benton 


5-10 


Bollinger . 


5-10 


Camden 


5-10 


Cape Girardeau 


5-10 


Carter 


.5-10 


Cedar 


5-10 


Crrthti in 


5-10 


Cole 


.5-10 


Crawfor 1 


.5-10 


Dade 


5-10 


Dalhs 


5-10 


Dent 


5-10 


Dougl as 


5-10 


Franklin 


.5-10 


G isconade 


5-10 




5-10 


Henry 


5-10 


Hickory 


5-10 


Howell 


5-10 


Iron 


.5-10 


Jasr>9r 


.5-10 


J e tierson 


5-10 


Laclede 


5-10 


Lawrence 


5-10 


McDon aid 


5-10 


M \di?on 


.5-10 


M vies ■: 


5-10 


Miller 


5-10 


Monite au 


5-10 


M Drg an 


5-10 


Newton 


.5-10 


Oregon 


5-10 


Osage 


5-10 


Ozark 


5-10 


Perr 7 


.5-10 


Phelos 


.5-10 


Polk 


5-10 


Pulaski 


5-10 


Reynolds 


;,-io 


Ri ole y 


5-10 


St. Clair 


5-10 


St. Fr ancois 


5-10 


Ste. Genevieve 


5-10 


Sh annon : 


5-10 


Stone 


5-10 


T ane y 


5-10 


Texas 


5-10 


Vernon 


5-10 


W ishiugton 


5-10 


Wayne 


5-10 


We'^ter. 


5-10^ 


Wright 


5-10 






Total 


13, 221, 000 


2, 753, 550 


1 (i, 148, 700 
3, 084, 350 


1 4, 318, 750 
7, 383, 100 























1 It is consiiered that the estimated cat-over area suitable for agriculture is too high and that of tne are« 
suitable for gradng is too low, hence the estim-dBi corrected figures. Eleven of these estimates are very 
rough and subject to large corrections after further investigation. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED. LANDS. 149 

MONTANA. 
GENERAL STATEMENT. 

173. Scope and results of investigations. — The work done b}^ the 
northern division in Montana covers only cut-over lands. The lands 
needing irrigation and those needing drainage were investigated by 
the western division and will be included in the report of that divi- 
sion. The principal areas of cut-over lands lie in the western part 
of the State and such of these lands as are suitable for agriculture 
are situated chiefly in the river valleys. It is estimated that the 
total cut-over area of Montana is 695,000 acres, of which 312,000 
acres are considered suitable for agriculture. (See Table 25, p. 152.) 
Studies have been made and general data collected for six areas 
of these agricultural lands. The four most important of these 
consist of what has been designated as the Clark Fork and Kalispell 
projects in the drainage basin of Clark Fork and the Fortine and 
Libby projects in the drainage basin of the Kootenai River. For 
convenience the two project* referred to lying in the drainage basin 
of Clark Fork will be discussed together and the two lying in the 
Kootenai «River basin will be likewise treated. There is a small area 
lying in the Swan River Valley that contains approximately 5,000 
acres of cut-over lands, but owing to the smallness of the area this 
is omitted from the detailed discussions. There is also an area 
of approximately 50,000 acres on the south, side of the Bitter Root 
River, but this land will probably require irrigation. About 10,000 
acres of it will require draining. The remaining 40,000 acres are cov- 
ered with brush with no stumps. This area is also omitted from the 
detailed discussions. 

174. Offers and prices of land. — Several voluntary offers were made 
of large holdings of lands in connection with the various areas 
referred to in the preceding paragraph. Unimproved cut-over lands 
of this region suitable for agricultural use vary from $5 to $20 
per acre and improved lands from $25 to $75 per acre, except under 
irrigation, where the prices are higher. Doubtless no difficulty would 
be experienced in obtaining areas at reasonable prices large enough 
for settlement in the four projects referred to. 

175. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The areas suitable for 
agriculture in western Montana lie mainly in the river valleys and 
adjacent areas. The valleys have practically all been affected by 
glacial action and the topography of the agricultural lands consists 
of the present alluvial river bottoms and of higher bordering 
river terraces of old glacial lake beds. The soils vary, therefore, 
from fine sandy loam and heavy silt loam to lake-laid silty clay and 
are generally very fertile. In some places the original glacial till 
overtops the terraces and there is considerable gravel and bowlders 
in the soil. Irrigation is generally a valuable adjunct to the rain- 
fan in crop production in this region. 

CUT-OVER LANDS. 
CLARK FORK PROJECTS. 

176. Location and acreage. — The Clark Fork unit lies in the valley 
of Clark Fork River between Paradise and the boundary line between 
Montana and Idaho. Of this area there are 55,000 acres of logged- 



150 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

off lands, of which 25,000 acres are now under cultivation and 20,- 
000 acres are presumably available for community settlement. The 
Kalispell unit of the Clark Fork group is located in the valley of 
Flathead River and its tributaries, in a large, flat inter-mountain 
area lying to the north of Flathead Lake which was, presumably, 
at one time a portion of that lake. It is estimated that there are 
approximately 130,000 acres of agricultural land within this unit, 
of which 75,000 acres are now under cultivation and 55,000 acres 
are unoccupied stump land owned in small tracts. It is not known 
whether or not these small holdings can be acquired for settle- 
ment. 

177. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils of the Clark 
Fork unit range from a silty and fine sandy loam to such soils wlith 
admixtures of bowlders; those of Kalispell unit consist mainly of 
lake-laid silt and fine sandy loam in the central portions of the 
unit with admixtures of stones in the glaciated borders of the old lake 
bed. The principal crops adaptable to these areas are grains, hay, 
hardy vegetables, and the hardier fruits. The winters of this region 
are usually cold, reaching as low as 20° below zero on the coldest days 
on the Clark Fork unit and as low as 25° to 35° below zero on the Kal- 
ispell unit. The summers are warm and the nights are generally cool. 
The months of July and August are usually dry. The average annual 
precipitation within the Clark Fork unit varies from about 20 to 22 
inches, being lighter at the upper end of the valley and heavier at the 
lower end. Within the Kalispell unit the average annual precipita- 
tion is probably about 18 to 20 inches. In both regions irrigation is a 
beneficial adjunct to rainfall in the processes of agriculture. 

178. Engineering plan and feasibility. — If development is made 
without irrigation the plans of reclamation will consist of clearing 1 , 
the land, subdividing it, and putting it into condition for occupancy. 
The original timber cut from the lands consisted of pines, firs, spruce, 
hemlock, and larch. Except where there is too large a percentage 
of larch and where the stumps are too thickly distributed over the 
ground it is believed that reclamation can be secured at economical 
costs. 

179. Transportation facilities and towns. — The Clark Fork unit 
is traversed from one end to the other by the Northern Pacific Rail- 
road and contains a number of small towns at intervals, the principal 
one being Thompson Falls. The main line of the Northern Pacific 
Railroad passes through the northern end of the Kalispell unit and) 
has a branch extending from Columbia Falls southward through the 
central part of the unit to Kalispell and Somers. There are several 
small towns within the project area, the principal of which is Kalis- 
pell. Lumbering, mining, and stock-raising industries furnish local 
markets for a large proportion of the agricultural products raised, 
while the main-line railroads traversing the projects furnish outlets 
for distant markets. 

KOOTENAI PROJECTS. 

180. Location and acreage. — The Fortine unit is located along the 
Tobacco River, Fortine Creek, and the Kootenai River near the 
mouth of Tobacco River. The project contains approximately 35,000 
acres of logged-off lands lying southeastward of Eureka, in the 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



151 



vicinity of Fortine, a portion of which is available for community 
settlement. The Libby unit consists of three isolated tracts located 
in the valley of the Kootenai River and extending up the Fisher 
River, Libby Creek, and Lake Creek, and it contains approximately 
30,000 acres of logged-ofT land, a large percentage of which is avail- 
able for community settlement. 

181. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils are of glacial 
origin, varying from a silty fine sandy loam on the Libby unit with 
admixtures of stones in the upland terrace areas to a heavy silt loam 
of river deposits, lake-laid deposits, glacial terrace deposit, and 
glacial till with admixtures of stones. The soils are generally fertile. 
On the Libby unit the winters are comparatively mild, with heavy 
snowfall. The growing season is comparatively short and July and 
August are usually dry. In the Fortine unit the temperatures, are 
much more severe, the winters being long and cold. The temperature 
ranges as low as 40° below zero, with heavy snowfall. The summers 
are short, hot, and dry. The growing season is also short. Small 
grains and the hardier vegetables and ha} 7 are the principal crops 
adapted to the region. 

182. Engineering flan and feasibility. — Unless irrigation is 
adopted as a part of the scheme of reclamation, these lands will 
require only clearing of pine, spruce, hemlock, and larch stumps. 
The cost of reclamation depends on the number and size of stumps 
and the preponderance of different species of trees. Where the con- 
ditions are not too unfavorable it is believed that the clearing can be 
done for economical cost. 

183. Transportation facilities and towns. — The main line of the 
Great Northern Railroad runs through the Fortine unit from one 
end to the other and passes down the Kootenai River along the edges 
of the three segregated areas of the Libby unit. Fortine and Eureka 
are the principal towns within the Fortine unit, and Fortine, Libby, 
and Troy within the Libby unit. Local industries furnish markets 
for a large proportion of the agricultural products, while the main 
line of the Great Northern Railroad will furnish outlet to distant 
markets. 

Table 24. — Agricultural cut-over lands in Montana. 



Clark Fork . 
Kalispell. . . 

Fortine 

Libby 



Total. 
Other areas. 



Projects. 



Estimated total in State. 



Count v. 



Sanders . . 
Flathead. 
Lincoln. . 
....do... 



Various . 



Acreasre 
suitable 

for 

asrieul- 

ture. 



55,000 
55,000 
35,000 
30,000 



175,000 
137,000 



312,000 



Esti- 
mated 
acreage 
available 
for com- 
munity 
settle- 
ment. 



20,000 
30,000 
25,000 
20,000 



95,000 



152 



DEVELOPMENT OE UNUSED LANDS. 



Table 25. — Classified acreages of unoccupied cut-over lands in various counties 

of cut-over regions of Montana. 



Counties. 


Area 
of unoc- 
cupied 
cut-over 
lands. 


Area 
most 
suitable 
for agri- 
culture. 


Counties. 


Area 
of unoc- 
cupied 
cut-over 
lands. 


Area 
most 
suitable 
for agri- 
culture. 


Beaver 


2,000 

150,000 

20.000 

96,000 

140,000 




Powell 


67,000 
117,000 
103,000 


27 000 


F ath^ad...'. 


90,000 


Ravelli 


41 000 


Granite 


Sanders 


55 000 




43,000 
56,000 


Total 




Missoula 


695,000 


312,000 







NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
' GENERAL STATEMENT. 

185. Scope and results of investigations. — New . Hampshire is 
largely a rolling or mountainous country, so that the lands adapted 
to general farming form but a comparatively small portion of the 
State. Lumbering is still an extensive industry in the northeast 
section, while the southeastern and southern portions are particu- 
larly suited for fruit raising. A large area in the west central part 
of the State is largely devoted to live stock and pasture lauds. The 
best dairy lands lie in a narrow strip all along the Connecticut Hiver 
Valley. The Merrimac River furnishes a broad valley of lighter 
soils where the use of large farming machinery is possible. The 
State is estimated to contain about 19,000 acres of swamp lands and 
about 2,600,000 acres of unoccupied cut-over lands. No lands needing 
drainage suitable for a project were located and only one possible 
project of cut-over lands was investigated. 

186. Offers and prices of lands. — One tract designated as the 
Nashua project has been brought to the attention of the department. 
Other than this tract the vacant-farm proposition is the only one 
presented. It is found that fair unimproved farming land may be 
procured at from $5 to $10 per acre. Improved New Hampshire 
farms are valued at $25 tcf $10 per acre. 

187. /Soils and general agricultural possibilities. — The soil of the 
State shows the effect of glacial action on granite and a partial 
reworking by the river of the glacial deposits. The result is a con- 
siderable variety of productiveness, the more fertile soils being along 
the slower streams. The soils of the valleys, coastal plains, and 
rounded hills are relatively fertile. The rocky and mountainous 
highlands discourage the extensive use of farm machinery and en- 
courage pasturage and permanent meadows rather than grain grow- 
ing or the culture of other crops. The present trend of agriculture 
is toward dairying, fruit growing, and, in the southern part, 
trucking. 

CUT-OVER LANDS. 



NASHUA PROTECT. 



188. Location and acreage. — This tract lies in the Souhegan River 
and Pennichuck Brook Valleys in Hillsboro County, extending in a 
northwest and southeast direction from Nashua to Wilton, some 15 
miles distant. There are about 10,000 acres in the tract. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 153 

189. Soils arid agricultural possibilities. — The lands are of terrace 
formation and the soils consist largely of coarse sand and gravelly 
sandy loam, as well as some fine sandy loam and stony loam having 
subsoils, respectively, of coarse sand and sand and gravel, sandy 
loam, fine sandy loam, and sandy loam. The soils are therefore 
drouthy and leachy in character and will require humus and fer- 
tilizers to build them up. These soils are early, however, and may 
be adapted to trucking crops, especially under irrigation. There is 
need for further investigation to determine the feasibility of this 
project. 

190. Engineering flan and feasibility. — This is cut-over or brush 
land and can be cheaply cleared and made ready for cultivation 
but will require the use of fertilizers and humus. It will also, on 
account of being level valley plain land, lend itself to the use of 
large farm machinery. The irrigation of the tract may be feasible 
either by gravity or pumping, using the Souhegan River and near- 
by brooks as a source of water supply. There is, however, much 
water power developed in the former, and Pennichuck Brook is 
used for the Nashua water supply, so that there might be conflicting 
interests to satisfy. The precipitation is usually ample for ordinary 
soils, averaging about 39 inches per year, which is quite evenly dis- 
tributed throughout the 12 months of the year. 

191. Transportation facilities and toicrts. — Transportation facili- 
ties are particularly good. The main line of the Boston & Maine 
Railroad runs in the Merrimac Valley reaching from Boston to the 
White Mountains and Canadian points. Nashua, with a population 
of 30,000 or more, is the most important railroad center in the State, 
having branch lines extending in different directions, one of which 
extends the whole length of the valley under consideration. There 
are many and good highwaj's. Manchester, with a population of 
over 80,000, is only about 15 miles from the tract. Boston and other 
large cities are not far distant; and the markets for all agricultural 
products are excellent. 

NEW JERSEY. 
GENERAL STATEMENT. 

192. Scope and result of investigations. — New Jerse} r contains a 
large acreage of cut-over lands and many fresh- water swamps, as well 
as large areas of tidal marsh lands, some 30,000 acres of the latter 
having been embanked and at present at least partly cultivated. A 
large part of the unembanked tidal lands have been ditched in carry- 
ing out the mosquito-extermination campaign, and it is expected that 
within a few years the tidal marshes will be entirely ditched and the 
salt-marsh mosquito practically exterminated. It is possible that at 
a later time it may be economically feasible to embank these ditched 
lands and provide sluice gates and reclaim the lands for agriculture. 
Aside from the Great Piece Meadow it is not thought that the time 
has yet arrived for undertaking the reclamation of the fresh-water 
swamps, except as incidentally where such swamps may occur in 
larger areas of cut-over lands to be reclaimed. Furthermore, it is 
probable that many of these swamps will be utilized for raising 
cranberries. There are many large tracts of cut-over lands in the 



154 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

State, some of which are probably suitable for settlement; The prin- 
cipal of these tracts are the Wharton tract (including the Frazier 
tract), containing 100,000 acres in Atlanta, Burlington, and Camden 
Counties ; and the Stokes tract of 32.000 acres in Burlington County. 
The Wharton tract is described in the following pages as a repre- 
sentative type. 

193. Offers and prices of land. — Although no offers of lands in 
New Jerse} T have been made directly, it is understood that a number 
of large tracts can be purchased at reasonable figures. The prices of 
lands here given are the taxable values on land alone. The range 
for north New Jersey is from $6.57 to $87.34. For south New Jersey, 
which comprises about three-fifths of the State, the prices run from 
$3.25 to $93.71 per acre. 

194. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The greater part of New 
Jersey has soils of the loam class, which are of glacial, lacustrine 
and alluvial origin. The Atlantic coast section of the State has soils 
varying greatly in texture and in the materials from which they are 
derived. The southern portion of the State lies in the coastal plain 
soil province. The upland soils are derived from unconsolidated 
ancient marine deposits and are largely sands and sandy loams. This 
section of the State and eastern New Jersey are ideal for truck crops, 
as well as for peaches, while the northern part of the State is par- 
ticularly fitted for general agriculture and the growing of apples 
and peaches. Dairying is also largely followed and the section is 
well fitted for sheep. Both sweet and white potatoes are raised 
extensively. 

LANDS NEEDING DRAINAGE. 

GREAT PIECE MEADOW PROJECT. 

195. Location and acreage. — The Great Piece Meadow, Hatfield 
Swamp, and other large swamps lie in the Passaic River Valley in 
Essex and Morris Counties. Above Little Falls there are about 
30,000 acres of the swamp overflow bottom lands too wet for culti- 
vation. 

196. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — This valley was occupied 
during glacial times by Lake Passaic and the soils are mixed glacial 
deposits, and since those times the lands are overflowed by the Passaic 
River. They are fertile and at present grow large hay crops and 
afford pasture. If reclaimed, they would become valuable lands for 
trucking and specialized crops as well as general farming. 

197. Engineering plan and feasibility. — There are complete hy- 
draulic and engineering data available for this project, as it has been 
under consideration for many years. The plan of reclamation pro- 
posed for gricultural development consists in lowering the present 
dam at Little Falls some 20 inches and the removing of the bar at 
Two Bridges and the reefs between Little Falls and Two Bridges and 
the improvement of the rest of the channel by removing fallen trees, 
small bars, etc. Then, by ditching and improving the old ditches the 
land would be reclaimed. The acreage cost of such reclamation 
should not be excessive. 

198. Transportation facilities and towns. — The various branches of 
the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western and Erie railroads surround 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



15*5 



the area under discussion. Little Falls, Lincoln Park, Montville, and 
Essex Falls are all nearby railroad points, giving access to the New 
Jersey suburban section, as well as the markets of New York, Jersey 
City, etc.. all of which are but a few miles distant. 



CUT-OVER LANDS. 



WHARTON PROJECT. 



199. Location and area. — This tract contains 100,000 acres and lies 
in Atlantic, Burlington, and Camden Counties and its purchase by 
the State has been considered for some years. 

200. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — Possibly one-fourth of 
the area is swamp land, the rest being cut-over pine and oak lands 
and scrub lands. The soils for the most part are sandy loams, under- 
lain by sandy or gravelly subsoils. These are good farming lands 
and particularly adapted to early truck crops, fruit, poultry, and 
dairying. 

201. Engineering plan and feasibility. — These are timbered and 
cut-over lands and would require the ordinary treatment to fit them 
for agriculture. They are particularly feasible from a settlement 
standpoint as the ownership is not diverse, as in most of the other 
large projects in New Jersey. 

202. Transportation facilities and towns. — The tract is served by 
the West Jersey & Sea Shore, the Atlantic City Railroad, and Cen- 
tral Railroad of New Jersey. The towns are Ellwood, Hammonton, 
Rosedale, Waterford Works, Chesilhurst, ElmT and Atsion. Lying 
about midway between Atlantic City and Camden and Philadelphia, 
its markets are extensive. 

Table 26. — Lands needing drainage in New Jersey. 



Projects. 


County. 


Acreage. 


Great Piece Meadows 


Essex-Morris 


30,000 


Other areas 


Various 


347,000 






Estimated total in State 


377,000 









Table 27. — Agricultural cut-over lands in New Jersey. 



Projects. 


County. 


Acreage. 


Esti- . 
mated 
acreage 
available 
lor com- 
munity 
settle- 
ment. 


Stokes 


Burlington 


32,000 
100,000 


15,000 


Wharton 


Atlantic, Burlington, Cam- 
den. 


60,000 




Total 


132,000 
468.000 


75,000 


Otner areas 


Various 








Estimated total in State 


600,000 











156 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

NEW YORK. 

GENERAL STATEMENT. 

203. Scope and results of investigations. — Although there are un- 
developed cut-over timber areas in New York, it is now considered 
that such tracts are better suited for reforestation than agriculture 
inasmuch as they are in the more mountainous parts of the State. 
For this reason only some of the larger swamps were investigated. 
Des< i iption of these swamp areas follow, under the captions of Gene- 
see, xviontezuma, Cicero, Wallkill, Fish Creek, and Hudson projects. 

204. Offers and prices of lands. — Five tracts of land of 1,000 acres 
or larger have been offered for sale for settlement, or suggested as 
for sale. The designations of these tracts, some of which will be 
described later, are: Hudson project in Greene County; Flint Creek 
drainage district, Potter Center ; Florence Leggett tract on the Hud- 
son River; Oak Orchard Swamp (Genesee project), Genesee County; 
and the Berne section. Prices probably range from $5 to $75 per 
acre, depending on the quality of the soil, location, and extent of 
improvement. 

205. Soils and agricultural 'possibilities. — The swamps examined 
all lie in the Erie-Ontario glacial plain and consist of muck of vary- 
ing depths. The drowned lands of the Wallkill Valley have a peat 
soil, while the Hudson tract consists of good general farming soils 
but needs some drainage. The muck swamps are especially adapted 
to truck and special crops, as well as to hay and other forage crops. 
There is plentiful rainfall and the climate, though fairly severe 
during the winter, is splendidly suited to successful agriculture. 

LANDS NEEDING DRAINAGE. 

GENESEE PEOJECT. 

206. Location and acreage. — This project comprises the Oak Or- 
chard Swamp of some 27,000 acres, the eastern or upper end of which, 

of some 8,000 acres of muck and 3,000 acres of upland, having been 
offered for sale to the Government. The swamp lies in Genesee and 
Orleans Counties, being some 20 miles in length. 

207. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soil is a rich, black 
muck, varying in thickness from 2 to 10 feet with a clay and sand 
subsoil. Some 800 acres of the muck have been in cultivation for 
10 3 T ears or more as well as all of the higher lands mentioned above. 
Onions, carrots, potatoes, lettuce, and celery have been most success- 
fully raised, as well as hay and forage crops. The lighter lands are 
adapted to general farming. 

208. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The swamp is mostly over- 
grown with brush and small timber, except for some open marsh 
lands and the lands now under cultivation. A company has ditched 
the upper end of Oak Orchard Creek and dug many lateral ditches, 
so that this part of the swamp (about 8,000 acres) only needs more 
laterals to be completely drained. There is much less fall in the 
western end of the swamp, and the reclamation of this part will be 
more expensive. The whole project seemingly offers a good oppor- 
tunity for a community- soldier settlement. 



DEVELOPMENT OE UNUSED LANDS. 157 

209. Transportation facilities and totvns. — Albion is some 8 miles 
north of the eastern portion of the swamp, while Batavia is about 
the same distance south. These places are on different sections of 
the New York Central' lines, which furnish excellent transportation 
facilities to all the large markets of the East. Buffalo is but 30 
miles from Batavia. The branch line on which are located Elba 
and Oakfield parallels the swamp on the south about 3 miles distant. 
Elba is the post office for the present development. 

MONTEZUMA PROJECT. 

210. Location and acreage. — This muck marsh of 30,000 to 40,000 
acres lies at the foot of Lake Cayuga in Cayuga, Seneca, and Wayne 
Counties, about 30 miles west of S}Tacuse. 

211. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soil is peat of vary- 
ing* depths, little of which has yet been reclaimed and cultivated. 
Much wild hay is grown and cut at present and the flags are exten- 
sively used for cooperage and the manufacture of paper. There is 
little doubt that these peat and muck soils have as great agricultural 
possibilities as those of similar swamps in this section that have al- 
ready been placed under cultivation. 

212. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The swamps are sur- 
rounded by precipitous higher lands which divide the marsh into 
several main sections which are further divided by the old Erie Ca- 
nal, the New York Barge Canal and its branches, and the Clyde and 
Seneca Rivers, as well as by the New York Central Railroad. The 
water table has already been lowered to a considerable extent in por- 
tions of the marsh by the completion of the barge canal and a little 
longer period will determine the natural draining effect of this im- 
provement. It is possible that the middle western and northwestern 
portion of the marsh might readily be drained, by an outlet to the 
north through Black Creek, Crusoe Lake, Butler Creek, and Wol- 
cott Creek, thus avoiding any connection with an outlet into the 
barge canal or Seneca River. The lower portion (4,000 acres) of 
this section of the marsh has been examined and reported upon by the 
New York State Conservation Commission. The watershed of this 
improvement would be either 20 or 35 square miles, depending upon 
whether or not the drainage of the watershed of the western part of 
Black Creek were diverted to the southwest. It is questionable 
whether just at present it would be advisable to open up such a large 
body of specialized-crop, raw-muck land when no agricultural de- 
velopment has as yet been made. A thorough examination and some 
surveys would be needed before a derision can be reached. 

*J13. Transportation facilities and towns. — Railroad transportation 
facilities are good for the area and, as a general thing, the country is 
particularly well supplied with roads and highways, many of which 
are highly improved. Savannah, on an island in the midst of the 
marsh, is the only town of fair size in the immediate vicinity of the 
marsh, but Auburn lies a little to the southeast, while Syracuse and 
Rochester are not far distant. Both the West Shore and New York 
Central lines cross the marsh in an easterly and westerly direction, 
passing through Savannah. 



158 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



CICERO PROJECT. 



214. Location and acreage. — The Cicero Swamp is in two portions y 
separated by about 2 miles of higher lands except where Mud Creek 
connects the two swamps. These lands lie from 2 to 8 miles distant 
from and south of the western end of Lake Oneida in Onondaga 
County. The western portion of the swamp contains about 2,500 
acres and the eastern portion about 6,000 acres. 

215. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — This is a peat and muck 
swamp varying in depth from 1 to 31 feet. It is of dark granular 
material to a depth of 4 feet, below which for 10 feet it is more fibrous 
and compact. At the bottom it forms a semifluid black muck. The 
muck is underlain with light-colored clays. A considerable area of 
the western portion of the eastern swamp body is now developed. At 
the extreme end of the swamp several hundred acres have been 
drained and cultivated. All of the usual truck crops, as well as hay 
and forage crops, are well adapted to these muck soils. 

216. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The eastern and larger 
portion of the swamp may be easily drained. The western end of 
this portion naturally has an outlet into the upper end of Mud Creek, 
which traverses the smaller or western portion of the entire swamp. 
The extreme eastern end of the large swamp already has a drainage- 
ditch outlet extending to Bridgeport, where the water level of Oneida 
Lake is reached. A continuation of this ditch into the swamp would 
furnish a good outlet, or a main ditch could be dug through the heart 
of the swamp and to the north through the low-lying higher land 
connecting with a small creek which flows into Oneida Lake. The 
outlet for the 2, 500 -acre swamp is complicated by the Barge Canal 
water level. A plan for the reclamation of this part of the swamp 
was made by the New York State Conservation Commission. The 
swamps are largely covered with soft maple, elm, and brush. The 
expense of clearing and draining should be very reasonable and, on 
account of portions of the swamp already being under cultivation, 
this seems a project worthy of further investigations. 

217. Transportation facilities and towns. — The bulk of this swamp 
lies only about 7 miles from the heart of the citj r of Syracuse, and the 
swamp is completely surrounded and, in parts, crossed by highways, 
the adjacent farming country being well settled. Manlius station, on 
the New York Central lines, lies about 3 miles south of the eastern 
end of Cicero Swamp. Liverpool is about 4 miles south and Wood- 
ward and Cigarville lie about 1 mile south and north, respectively, 
of the western end of the swamp. The Eome, Watertown & Ogdens- 
burg Railroad passing through these points, crosses the swamp. 
Syracuse, furnishing a large market, lies practically at the swamp, 
and Rochester. Buffalo, Albany, and New York are not far distant. 



WALLKITJL PROJECT. 



218. Location and acreage. — These lands are known as the Drowned 
Lands or Florida Marshes and have an area of some 25,000 acres. 
They lie in Orange County in the valley of the Wallkill River, and 
are more or less continuous with similar lands in New Jersey. 

219. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soil consists of peat 
of depths varying from nothing to 18 feet. The lands are largely 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 159 

owned by one man, which has doubtless prevented their development, 
as they are seemingly well adapted to nearly all crops except grain. 
Portions of the swamp have been cultivated, but by far the greater 
part of the swamp is used as pasture and hay lands. 

220. Engineering flan and feasibility. — The reclamation of these 
swamps would probably require an improvement of the Wallkill 
River with submain and lateral ditches throughout the swamp. Few 
portions are covered by water, except occasionally, and the greater 
part of the swamp is forested with both deciduous and coniferous 
trees. The forest floor is dense with mosses and liverworts while 
burned-over areas are covered with a dense copse of birch and 
poplar. It would require a thorough field investigation to deter- 
mine the feasibility and desirability of these swamp lands as a 
possible project. 

221. Transportation facilities and towns. — The lands are traversed 
by the Erie Railroad and the W. W. S. & W. R. R. and extend 
as far north as New Hampton. Middletown and Goshen are two 
of the larger near-by towns, while the markets of Greater New York 
and vicinity are only about 50 miles distant. 

FISH OKEEK PROJECT. 

222. Location and acreage. — These swamp lands are located along 
Fish Creek and around Hickory and Mud Lakes in western St. 
Lawrence County. They have an area of about 5,000 acres. 

223. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soil is an especially 
fine quality of muck, suitable for the production of vegetables and 
forage crops. 

221. Engineering plan and feasibility. — A detailed drainage plan 
was made for this project by the New York State Conservation Com- 
mission, their conclusion being that thorough drainage could be 
secured within reasonable limits of cost. The plan contemplates a 
single main ditch extending the whole length of the swamp, approxi- 
mately following the line of the creek. The cost of the right of way 
in 1915 was estimated at $20 per acre, which will give some idea of 
the unimproved value of the land at that time. This is considered 
as a possible project. 

225. Transportation facilities and towns. — A branch of the New 
York Central lines running north to the near-by cities of Morris- 
town and Ogdensburg on the St. Lawrence River lies about 5 miles 
to the west of the swamp, the nearest stations being Hammond and 
Brier Hill. Watertown is some 440 miles to the south. 

HUDSON PRO.IECT. 

226. Location and acreage. — This tract of some 15,000 acres lies 
along the Hudson River in Greene County between Coxsackie and 
Athens. 

227. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils consist largely 
of a sandy loam and the topography varies from level to rolling. 
The lands are now under cultivation in rather large holdings. The 
range in price for these lands is probably from $20 to $75 per acre. 

228. Engineering plan and feasibility. — Although uplands, they 
need some drainage outlets. This is, apparently, a favorable location 
for a soldier settlement. 



r 



160 



DEVELOPMENT OF VXU^LD LAXDS. 



229. Transportation facilities and towns. — The West Shore Rail- 
road passes through this tract with stations at Coxsackie and West 
Athens. The tract is also well provided with roads including the 
" Old Kings Road." In close proximity to Albany, Hudson, and the 
mountain resorts, and with boat service on the Hudson River to New 
York, this tract is very favorably situated as to large markets. 

Taible 28. — Lands needing drainage in New York. 



Projects. 


County. 


Acreage. 


Genesee 


Genesee and Orleans 

Several 


27,000 
30,000 

8,500 
25,000 

5,000 

15,000 

589, 500 


Moitezuma Marshes 


Cicero Swamp 


Onondaga 


Wahkill 


Orange . 


Fish Creek 


St. Lawrence 




Greene 


Various 




Estimated total in State ! 


700,000 


! 



NORTH DAKOTA. 



GENERAL S1V TEMENT. 

230. /Scope and results of investigations. — Out of about 2,000,000 
acres of land originally needing drainage in North Dakota, there 
still remain about 880,000 acres yet to be drained. By far the greater 
part of this area lies in the Red River and the Mouse River Valleys 
in old glacial lake beds. The remaining areas exist in small bodies 
in innumerable depressions and sloughs in the glacin] area of the 
State. The Mouse River Valley contains about 25,000 acres that 
require drainage, and the Red River Valley about 750,000 acres. 
These are not lands of a swampy character but are subject to over- 
flow from excessive precipitation. North Dakota is essentially a 
prairie State and there are, therefore, no cut-over lands within its 
borders. The investigations of the northern division were con- 
fined to the area east of tlie ninety-eighth meridian, the remaining 
part of the State lying in the western division. Owing to the fact 
that the lands needing drainage are subject only to occasional over- 
flow they are occupied and cultivated and are not generally available 
for farm purposes. One area, however, that is a general exception 
to this rule, was found in the Bois de Sioux Valley connecting Lake 
Traverse with the Red River. This project contains lands in Minne- 
sota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. It will later be discussed 
in detail in this report. 

231. Offers and prices of land. — Two tracts of 1,000 acres or over 
were offered as suitable land for soldier settlement, and it is be- 
lieved that no difficulty will exist in securing other offers, if desired. 
Undrained lands range from $10 to $50 or more per acre, depending 
on the location and the extent to which drainage is needed. 

232. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils of eastern 
North Dakota belong either to the glacial and loessial province or to 
the glacial lake and river terrace province, both of which contain 
some of the richest soils in the United States. In the eastern part 
of the State, in the Red River Valley, where most of the undrained 
lands lie, there is sufficient precipitation usually to produce good 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



161 



crops. The kinds of crops that can readily and profitably be grown 
in this region are small grains, silage corn, grasses, potatoes and 
other vegetables. 

LANDS NEEDING DRAINAGE. 



BOIS DE SIOUX. 



233. Location and acreage. — The Bois de Sioux project is located 
in Richland County, N. Dak. ; Wilkin and Traverse Counties, Minn. ; 
and Roberts County, S. Dak., along Lake Traverse and the Bois de 
Sioux River. It is estimated that there are approximately 50,000 
acres in this project, 20,000 acres of which lie in North Dakota, 
25.0*00 acres in Minnesota, and 10.000 acres in South Dakota. 

234. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The surface soil of the: 
lands within this project is a rich silt loam and the subsoil is a clay 
loam. The agricultural* possibilities are similar to those of the well- 
known Red River Valley. These lands have the climatic advantage, 
however, of being in the extreme southern part of this valley. 

235. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The problem in this proj- 
ect is to prevent overflow of the waters from Lake Traverse onto the 
lands along Lake Traverse and the Bois de Sioux River. The best 
means of accomplishing this is to divert Lake Traverse into Minne- 
sota River drainage basin and to provide compensating storage in 
Big Stone Lake and possibly also in Lac qui Parle. Supplemental 
provision for drainage of the Bois de Sioux River Valley will, of 
course, be necessarj^. If it is found impracticable to divert Lake 
Traverse into Big Stone Lake, it will be possible to store the entire 
flood waters of its drainage basin in the lake and gradually to dis- 
charge these waters down the Bois de Sioux River channel into Red 
River. The overflow conditions from Lake Traverse in North Da- 
kota are now the subject of a suit against the State of Minnesota, on 
the grounds of claimed increase floods in Lake Traverse due to drain- 
age of lands tributary to the lake. 

236. Transportation facilities and towns. — Good transportation fa- 
cilities are available, as the region is traversed by the Sault Ste. 
Marie Railroad, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, and 
the Great Northern Railroad. The principal towns are Wahpeton, 
Taylor, and Fairmount, N. Dak.; and Breckenridge, Childs, and- — 
Whiterock, Minn. Distant markets will be found in Minneapolis 
and St. Paul. 

Table 29. — Lands needing drainage in North Dakota. 



Projects. 


County. 


Acreage.- 


Bois de Sioux 


Richland 


20,000 


Other areas 


Various 


860, 000 






Estimated total in State 


880, 000 







OHIO. 
GENERAL STATEMENT. 



237. Scope and results of investigations. — After inspection of ex- 
isting data on drainage in Ohio and conference with State officials, 
the field investigations in this State were confined to localities most 

141901— H. Doc. 262, 66-1 11 



162 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



likely to yield results. These areas are largely concentrated in the 
white clay region of southwestern Ohio in the upland region between 
the Ohio River and Great Lakes drainage basin and in the Lake 
Erie shore swamps. The white clay lands can be best drained by 
the farmers themselves, as the problem is one of tiling rather than 
open-ditch construction of magnitude. Along the shores of Lake 
Erie, mainly between Toledo and Sandusky, there are about 20,000 
acres of swamp lands that can be drained by diking and pumping. 
These lands have soils adapted to growing onions, celery, and other 
vegetables. On the divide there are numerous small swamps," some 
of which can be economically reclaimed. The largest of these is 
probably the Kilbuck Swamp, in Kilbuck Valley, in Holmes County, 
and it contains only about 4,500 acres. There is also a considerable 
acreage in various river valleys in the State that are subject to over- 
flow, some of which are being reclaimed by tile conservancy districts. 
The total estimated swamp and overflow lands in the State is 200,000 
acres. There are also opportunities for colonies on large holdings 
now farmed by tenants. 

Table 30. — Lands needing drainage in Ohio. 



Projects. 


County. 


Acreage. 


Lake Erie 


Lucas-Ottawa . 


20,000 

4,500 

175, 500 


Kilbuck Swamp 


Holmes 


Other areas : 


Various 








Estimated total in State 


200,00* 







OREGON. 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 

238. /Scope and results of investigations. — The report on the cut- 
over lands in Oregon is based on a personal knowledge of the investi- 
gator, gained previous to this investigation, and on the data fur- 
nished by the head of the development bureau of the Portland Cham- 
ber of Commerce in cooperation with the United States Forest Serv- 
ice, at Portland; also upon a report prepared several years ago as a 
result of a joint economic survey conducted by the State administra- 
tion, the State university and agricultural college, and the Portland 
Chamber of Commerce. No detailed field examinations were made 
under the present appropriation, other than to visit general points 
of information. The data for each county were primarily furnished 
by the county assessors, but the above-mentioned bureau and Forest 
Service, in the light of their personal knowledge, combined these 
data with previously existing data, the results of which are given 
in Table 31, page 166. It is thought that there are approximately 
830,000 acres of cut-over land within the State suitable for agricul- 
ture ; the bulk of this area lies west of the Cascade Range. To better 
describe these lands as to location, topography, transportation, etc., 
but chiefly for geographic reasons, they have been grouped into 10 
districts. . These districts are as follows : Blue Mountain, Columbia 
River, Coos, East Willamette; Grants Pass, Hood River, Roseburg. 
Tillamook, Wasco, and West Willamette. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 163 

239. Offers and prices of land. — No offers of land were solicited in 
Oregon and only one tract of 3,000 acres was offered, this land being 
already mostly under cultivation. Little or no farming land is 
changing hands, and favorably-situated cut-over land is often priced 
high. The average price for it, when there is a market for it in 
small tracts, is about $40 per acre, and in large tracts about $10. Im- 
proved farm land ranges from $100 to $400 or $500 per acre, while 
the average price for improved farms in the loggecl-off districts is, 
in all probabilhyy, about $150 per acre. 

210. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils are derived 
from igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks or from an ad- 
mixture of various rocks, and are mainly residual or alluvial in char- 
acter. Some of the soils are, however, derived from glacial action. 
Generally the soils are quite productive and the agricultural possibili- 
ties are usually good both for general farming and for fruit growing. 

241. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The size and species of 
trees which occupied many of these cut-over lands generally make 
the problem of land clearing an expensive proposition. Still hun- 
dreds of thousands of acres of similar lands have been privately 
cleared and put under cultivation. The lands adapted to fruit grow- 
ing, especially in renowned fruit-growing sections, are valuable 
when cleared and a profitable holding and need consist of but few 
acres. Under present conditions and at current prices for material and 
labor land clearing in the more heavily wooded sections is practically 
prohibitive, estimated on the basis of commercial values. Under nor- 
mal conditions and use of improved methods and machinery the less- 
difficult areas can be economically cleared. Lands adapted particu- 
larly to dairying and stock raising can be gotten into pasture and 
cleared later when conditions are favorable. The reclaimable cut- 
over lands suitable for agriculture, included here, consist not only of 
heavily-stumped lands, but of lands where the timber was small and 
light as well as burned-over districts and brush-covered areas. It is 
probable that the larger part of these lands is held in large tracts 
by various lumber companies, but no data have been secured along 
this line. 

242. Transportation facilities and towns. — Space does not permit 
of taking this matter in detail for all the districts described, but it 
may generally be stated that all the districts are reached or traversed 
by railroads and that the highways, both paved and macadamized, 
as well as the ordinary county roads, are far more numerous than 
would be expected in regions of such large, sparsely populated areas. 
Each district has its own thriving community towns and some include 
the metropolitan districts of the State. Transportation is good. 
Markets for all sorts of farm produce in Oregon is now, and has 
practically been from the early days of settlement, good and remu- 
nerative and it is expected to remain so as the population is con- 
stantly increasing, particularly the industrial and urban population. 

CUT-OVER PROJECTS. 

243. Location and acreage. — Ten principal districts, already men- 
tioned above, are summarized in Table 31, together with the esti- 
mated acreage of cut-over lands in each, as well as the counties or 



164 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED' LANDS. 

parts of counties embraced. The total acreage of cut-over lands 
suitable for agriculture as there shown has been estimated to be 
830,000 acres. 

244. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — Taking the districts in 
the order named, the following brief descriptions will give some idea 
of the conditions and the agricultural possibilities. 

245. Blue Mountain district. — This district is in the extreme north- 
eastern part of the State and is located along the crest of the Blue 
Mountain Plateau, embracing some 1,225 square miles and ranging 
in elevation from 3,000 to 4,800 feet. Its elevation is too high for 
growing anything but the hardier grains, vegetables, and forage 
crops. Wheat, oats, barley, as well as vegetables, are largely grown. 
It is a good dairy country, but stock must be housed during the win- 
ter. The precipitation ranges from 30 to 45 inches and the snowfall 
from 2 to 4 feet, although it does not lie for any length of time. The 
surrounding country is highly developed as a wheat-producing re- 
gion, although considerably lower in altitude. 

246. Columbia River district. — This is mostly a rolling, forest- 
covered, hill country, the soils being mostly of a clay loam, dark 
brown or reddish in color, known as " red-shot " soils, with a liberal 
capping of mold of considerable depth and rich in quality. Pre- 
cipitation ranges from 40 to 60 inches, with a four to six weeks' dry 
spell during midsummer. All kinds of farm products yield well, as, 
do all sorts of deciduous fruits and berries. The markets are ex- 
cellent. 

247. Coos district. — This district is practically a continuation of 
the Tillamook district, which will be described later. Its area is 
3,300 square miles. While somewhat rough and mountainous, a fair 
percentage of the area is comparatively level. The climate is moder- 
ate and uniform, farming operations being seldom interrupted by 
either frost or snow. On the lowlands the soil is usually a sedimen- 
tary deposit of alluvium and humus mixed more or less with sands. 
The hill-land soil is very generally a sandy loam of dark-reddish 
color and both deep and rich. Dairying is an especially attractive 
industry, but fruit raising and forage and general crops all do well- 
The precipitation ranges from 65 to 75 inches per year. 

248. Grants Pass district. — This district practically coincides with 
the drainage basin of the Rogue River, including over 6,000 square 
miles. It is inclosed by high mountains. The stream valleys, though 
less in number than in the Roseburg district, on the north are much 
larger and the intervening ridges much higher and more sharply 
defined. The western part is exceedingly rough and mountainous, 
and the Rogue River is in a deep, narrow, tortuous gorge, contrasting 
with the broad sweep of valley land above. This constitutes the 
southern terminus of Douglas fir. Cedar, spruce, hemlock, oak, 
madrona, myrtle, and ash attain considerable size in the mountainous 
sections. The climate of the upper part of the district is moderate 
and especially adapted to fruit growing. Practically everything that 
can be grown elsewhere in Oregon can be grown equally well in 
Rogue River Valley. The soils are derived from basic igneous rocks 
generally. 

249. Hood River and Wasco districts. — These districts lie along the 
north and east flanks, respectively, of Mount Hood. The areas of 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 165 

the districts are 612 and 470 square miles. The Hood River district 
embraces the drainage basin of Hood River, the entire valley having 
a sharp decline corresponding with the inclination of the mountain 
side. The tillable cut-over land when reclaimed for cultivation 
brings large prices per acre. The climate varies with the altitude, 
which ranges from 500 to 2,700 feet, the limit of the agricultural 
zone. The precipitation ranges from 20 to 70 inches, also depending 
upon altitude as well as location. The soils are clay loams and are 
fertile. This is an exceptional fruit-growing section. The Wasco 
district embraces largely the drainage area of the White River and 
ranges in altitude from 600 to 2,500 feet. The soils and climate are 
similar to the Hood River district. Fruit is one of the principal 
products and is of high grade. All sorts of grain and other farm 
products yield well. 

250. Roseburg district. — This district comprises exclusively the 
valley and drainage basin of the Umpqua River, with an area of 
4,500 square miles. It is a rolling, hilly country, interspersed with 
numerous valleys and surrounded by high, rugged mountains. It 
is so protected from the prevailing trade winds of the Pacific coast 
that there is a manifest modification of its climatic conditions both 
as to temperature and precipitation, the climate being mild and ex- 
ceptionally uniform. The growing season is long and frost on the 
lower levels is negligible. Precipitation varies from 20 to 50 inches. 
Irrigation is necessary for fruit raising in lower sections. The soils 
are very diversified, due to their origin from metamorphic rocks, 
limestone, marble, sandstone, shales, granite, and basalt, and range 
from the rich alluvial soils of the valleys, which are now mostly 
under cultivation, to the shallow, gravelly soils of the bench lands. 
Farm produce of great variety and good quality and, especially 
fruits of national reputation, distinguish the Umpqua basin. 

251. Tillamook district. — This is the northern part of a narrow 
strip of land along the coast. It is 125 miles long and does not 
exceed 35 miles in width to the crest of the Coast Range on the east. 
Numerous and irregular spurs extend out from the main ridge, and 
many of them reach and terminate at the shore line in bold rocky 
escarpments. Notwithstanding the apparently rough and broken 
character of the country there is a considerable portion of it of such 
contour and declivity as to permit of its utilization and cultivation. 
This coast region is especially adapted to dairying, chiefly on account 
of the fact that the winters are so mild that stock can graze through- 
out the year. Ordinary farm produce can also be grown. The pre- 
cipitation is very heavy, the average annual maximum being 100 
inches, but it is mostly a fine, misty, or gentle precipitation, causing 
practically no erosion. The soils of the valleys are sedimentary 
alluvials and sandy loams, and on the uplands are residuals from a 
predominating formation of basalt. 

252. Willamette districts. — The east Willamette district includes 
the forested foothills and western slopes of the Cascade Mountains 
for almost the entire length of the valley, a distance of about 100 
miles. The west Willamette district includes the eastern slope of the 
Coast Range and the foothills bordering on the Willamette Valley 
b'asin on the west. This is a large intermountain basin some 40 to 
50 miles in width. The floor of the valley is a comparatively level 
plain, broken at several places by groups and ridges of low hills. 



166 



DEVELOPMENT OE LTNUSED LANDS. 



The soil of the valley floor proper is an infertile sedimentary silt 7 
having been at one time the bottom of an inland sea or estuary. 
Around the rim of the valley the soil improves as it merges into the 
foothills and quickly attains a high degree of fertility in ascending 
from the valley level. The climate, the rainfall, and the soil are all 
favorable to good yields and are adapted to intensive farming, fruit 
growing, and stock raising. The climate is moderate and the annual 
precipitation is 45 to 60 inches. 

Table 31. — Agricultural cut-over lands in Oregon. 



Project. 



Countv. 



Columbia River Columbia, Washington, Yamhill, 

Marion, Clackamas, and Multnomah. 



Umatilla and Union. 

Coos, Lane, Douglas, and Curry. 

Marion, Linn, and Lane 

Jackson, Josephine, and Curry. . 



Blue Mountain 

Coos 

East Willamette 

Grants Pass 

Hood River Hood River and Wasco. 

Roseburg Douglas 

Tillamook Clatsop, Tillamook, and Lincoln . . 

Wasco Wasco 

West Willamette Benton, Yamhill, Polk, and Lane. 

Total 

Other areas Various 



Estimated total in State. 



Acreage 
suitable 
for agri- 
culture. 



220,000 

20, 000 

175,000 

30,000 

28, 000 

10,000 

200,000 

100, 000 

3,000 

34,000 



Estimated 
acreage 

available 
for com- 
munity 

settlement. 



820, 000 
10,000 



830,000 



110,000' 
10, ooo- 

75, 000- 
15,000 
10,000 



100,000 
50,000 



15,000' 



385, 000 



Table 32. — Classified acreages of unoccupied cut-over lands in various counties 

in cut-over regions of Oregon. 



County. 



Baker 

Benton 

Clackamas . . 

Clatsop 

Columbia . . . 

Coos 

Crook 

Curry 

Douglas 

Deschutes.. 

Grant 

Harney 

Hood River. 

Jackson 

Jefferson 

Josephine . . 

Klamath 

Lake 

Lane 

Lincoln 

Linn 

Marion 

Multnomah 

Polk 

Tillamook. . 
Umatilla.. . 

Union 

Wallowa 

Wasco 

Washington 
Yamhill 

Total. 



Area of 

unoccupied 

cut-over 

lands. 



Acres. 

81,400 

4,600 

100, 000 

123,500 

200, 000 

263, 000 

3,000 

91, 000 

470, 000 

20, 300 

9,000 

3,000 

30, 000 

32, 000 

3,000 

52, 000 

40,000 

3,000 

200,000 

75,000 

50,000 

15,000 

90, 200 

34, 000 

110,000 

100, 000 

150,000 

40,000 

25,000 

150, 000 

100, 000 



Area most 
suitable 
for agri- 
culture. 



2, 668, 000 



A cres. 



1,400 

10, 000 

61,800 

70, 000 

100,000 



10,000 
240, 000 



1,000 



8,000 

10,000 

500 

10,000 

4,500 



50, 000 
25,000 
10, 000 
2,500 
41,000 
10,000 
20,000 



20,000 
10, 000 
5,000 
75,000 
35, 000 



830, 700 



Area most 
suitable 

for 
grazing. 



Acres. 
81,400 

3,200 

60,000 

30,000 

100, 000 

110,000 

3,000 

40, 000 

115,000 

20,300 

8,000 

3,000 
18,000 
22, 000 

2,500 
35,000 
30,000 

3,000 
140,000 
50,000 
20, 000 
11,500 
40, 000 
20,000 
80,000 
80, 000 
100,000 
20, 000 
15,000 
75,000 
50,000 



1,385,900 



Prevailing 

price of 

cut-over 

lands. 



$7. 50 

$25. 00-40. 00 

25. 00-40. 00 

25.00-40.00 

25. 00-40. 00 

8. 00-10. 00 

10.00 

10. 00-30. 00 



25. 00-100. 00 
5.00 



10.00 - 



15. 00-25. 00 
10. 00-30. 00 
40. 00-60. 00 
30. 00-60. 00 



25. 00-60. 00 



10. 00-30. 00- 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 167 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

GENERAL STATEMENT. 

253. Scope and results of investigations. — Lack of time and funds 
prevented complete investigations in Pennsylvania. The Dubois 
tract in Clearfield County lias, however, been suggested as suitable 
for a project, but there has as yet been no opportunity to examine it. 
There are no swamps to be reclaimed in the State, and the overflow 
lands are unimportant from the standpoint of soldier settlement. The 
cut-over lands in the State are for the most part in the rougher moun- 
tainous sections of the State, which are not adapted to general agri- 
culture. 

254. Offers and prices of lands. — The Dubois tract just mentioned 
is the only offer of land and no price was volunteered. The United 
States Bureau of Soils states : 

Land values vary greatly, owing to the presence of coal, from .$20 to $200 
an acre, with a general farming value of $25 to $40. 

255. /Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils are all of glacial 
or fluvatile origin and are extremely varied. The valley lands best 
suited to agriculture are practically all in cultivation, the Cumber- 
land Valley down into Maryland being a very rich farming section. 
Aside from general farm crops, there is a very large market for ,all 
the truck crops that can be raised not only in the State, due to its 
large mining and manufacturing populations, but also on account of 
proximity to Philadelphia and the other large Atlantic coast cities. 

CUT -OVER LANDS. 

DUBOIS PROJECT. 

256. Location and acerage. — There are about 10,000 acres in this 
tract, or rather several tracts, as there are a number of owners in- 
volved. These lands lie two-thirds in Winslow Tovrnship, Jefferson 
County, and one-third in Brady Township, Clearfield County. 

257. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — All of the soils have been 
derived principally from conglomerate sandstones and shales and are 
probably silt loam and shale loam. These soils are here ordinarily 
deficient in organic matter and lime. Some good farming land exists. 
The topography is steeply rolling to hilly, the hills being rounded 
and not rugged. The soils are well drained, except for seepage at 
the base of some of the hills. Erosion is active. Orcharding, stock- 
raising, and market gardening are probabl} T better adapted to the 
conditions than general farming. 

258. Engineering plan and feasibility. — It is thought that these 
are cut-over and abandoned coal mining lands but data have not 
been obtained. A very careful investigation will be necessary to 
determine the feasibility and possibilities of the project owing to 
difficulties often arising from large mining operation beneath and 
in the vicinity of the land. The hilly topography may introduce dif- 
ficulties in the way of effecting an economical use of some of the 
land. 

259. Transportation facilities and towns. — The immediate tract 
has at its borders Falls Creek, Dubois, Reynolclsville, and Sykesville, 



168 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



all of which are interconnected with branches of the Pennsylvania 
lines. Johnstown on the main line is some 50 miles south of Dubois. 
The local markets, mostly mining districts, are probably ample to take 
care of the production. State highways connect Eeynoldsville and 
Dubois and Sykesville and Dubois. The former is improved through- 
out its course in Jefferson County, and improved roads become a 
necessity in the spring and fall seasons. 

Table 33. — Agricultural cut-over lands in Pennsylvania. 



Project. 


County. 


Acreage 
suitable 
for agri- 
culture. 


Estimated 
acreage 

available 
for com- 
munity 

settlement. 


Dubois 


Clearfield and Jefferson 


10,000 


10, 000 


Other areas 


Various 













RHODE ISLAND. 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 



260. Scope and result of investigations. — The larger swamps of 
Rhode Island occur in Washington County, in the southern part of 
the State. They are largely caused by, and their drainage prevented 
by, the several developed water powers along the Pawcatuck River. 
As their reclamation, except by leveling and pumping, would necessi- 
tate the removal of the dams, it is considered that their development 
is not now desirable. The State is divided into the Narragansett Bay 
area of plains and low-lying rounded hills and the western broken, 
hilly section, which is a remnant of an old Appalachian formation. 
Two, and possibly three, tracts were tentatively located, which seem 
worthy of further investigation. They are all in the Narragansett 
Bay area, which is is the best agricultural section of the State, and 
are classed as cut-over or scrub or sprout areas. 

261. Offers and prices of lands. — No offers of land from Rhode 
Island have been received. The average value of unimproved lands, 
but including such buildings as still happen to be on them, is about 
$9 per acre. Much rough land in the western part of the State can 
probably be bought for $3 per acre. 

262. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The agricultural soils of 
the eastern and southern parts of the State have sandy and loamy 
soils which, although agriculture has been continually decreasing 
during the past century, are yet fertile. The principal cause of farm 
abandonment in this section has been the increase of manufacture to 
the detriment of agriculture. There are splendid opportunities for a 
renewal of agriculture in this State, especially along lines of market 
gardening, as the local markets, especially Providence, are large. 
Furthermore, a farmers' exchange has been established that owns its 
own motor trucks for the collection of produce. This exchange, in 
which many in the State are deeply interested, bids fair to build up 
a much healthier state of agriculture in the near future. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 169 



CUT-OVER LAXDS. 



KINGSTON PLAINS PROJECT. 



263. Location and acreage. — There are two tracts of about 1,000 
acres each, one of which has in times past been all under cultivation 
but is now only partially so, and the other consisting of scrub and 
sprout land without any buildings. These tracts lie immediately 
east and south of West Kingston in Washington County about 30 
miles from Providence. Within a 3-mile circle, with West Kingston 
as a center, and mostly in the northwest quadrant, are probably at 
least 3,000 acres more of waste or vacated land which might be pro- 
cured, making some 5,000 acres in all quite closety connected. 

264. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soils of this project 
are sandy loam, silt loam, and stony loam. The sandy loam is free 
from stones and large gravel, is warm, early, and easily tilled. The 
surface is level and unbroken. This soil is particularly well adapted 
to truck and garden products. The silt loam is practically free 
from stones and gravel and is friable and mellow; the surface is 
level and unbroken. This soil is suitable for growing diversified 
crops. The stony loam is mainly firm, compact loam with consid- 
erable quantities of bowlders and gravel intermixed. It retains 
moisture well, requires little drainage, and suffers little from erosion. 

265. Engineering flan and feasibility. — These lands are cut-over 
scrub and sprout lands, which by the use of proper machinery may 
be cleared on an extensive scale at a comparatively low cost. That 
portion of the Great Swamp lying north of Wordens Pond and 
forming a portion of the undeveloped 1,000-acre tract mentioned 
above could probably be cheaply leveed and a pumping drainage 
system installed. Combined with the established farms which are 
interspersed with these various tracts and vacant farms, it would 
doubtless be feasible and desirable to establish a community. A 
large part of the modern conveniences are already established in 
this section, such as good roads, telephones, electric light and power 
lines, rural mail routes, churches, schools, agricultural colleges, rail- 
roads, etc. The project is recommended for further investigation. 

266. Transportation facilities and towns. — The Shore Line of the 
Xew York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad between Providence 
and New York passes through the Kingston plains. West Kingston 
being about the center of the proposed project. Usquepaugh, 3 miles 
to the northwest, is a small inland town, while Kingston, where is 
located the State Agricultural College, lies 2 miles east. Fifteen 
miles northeast on the railroad is East Greenwich, while Providence, 
with a population of over 300,000, is only about 30 miles distant, 
furnishing an excellent local market for all agricultural products. 
Improved State highways make motor-truck transportation entirely 
feasible. 



WARWICK DOWNS PROJECT. 



267. Location and acreage. — The Warwick Downs in the north- 
eastern corner of Kent County lie from 5 to 8 miles south of the 
Union Station in Providence. There are about 5,000 acres in a 
compact body lying practically entirely unused. 



170 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

268. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soil is nearly all 
a mellow, brown, sandy loam to an average depth of 10 inches. 
usually containing some fine gravel. The soil is free from stones 
and large gravel, and is warm, early, and easily tilled. The subsoil 
to depths of greater than 3 feet consists usually of a few inches 
of loose sandy loam of yellow color, quickly grading into coarse, 
loose sand and fine gravel. The surface is level and unbroken. 
Drainage is thorough and adequate, and the land rarely suffers from 
drouth, due to the proximity of the water table. Grass, grain, and 
other general farming products, and particularly trucking and mar- 
ket gardening, are the crops eminently suited to this soil. 

269. Engineering plan and feasibility. — This tract is largely scrub, 
sprout, and pasture land at present, and presents slight obstacles to 
easy clearing and preparation for the plow. By use of a heavy 
tractor and large plows a large part of the small growth could prob- 
ably be turned under. This vegetation would soon rot and add 
humus to the soil. On account of its closeness to Providence, and 
being surrounded by suburban and summer transient property, the 
land values here would undoubtedly be higher than on the Kingston 
Plains project, but market gardening would doubtless be the chief 
type of farming and the farms would naturally be quite small. 

270. Transportation facilities and towns. — The shore line of the 
]\ T ew York, New Haven & Hudson River Railroad, with stations at 
Appanaug, Greenwood, and Hills Grove, is just west of the tract, 
and there is electric line service as well. The tract is surrounded by 
improved highways and all other modern conveniences and would 
furnish an ideal tract for a community center. Providence would 
furnish an ample market for all products. 

WOOD KIVER JUNCTION PROJECT. 

271. Location and acreage. — In southeast -Washington County sur- 
rounding Wood River Junction is a tract of several thousand acres 
which might be suitable for a community center. These lands were 
not personally examined. 

272. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — There is a large body of 
sandy loam in this locality principally north of the junction. A 
large body of sand lies just to the west which is probably not of 
much agricultural value. The former is preeminently a trucking- 
soil so that the agricultural possibilities in this section should be 
excellent. 

273. Engineering plan and feasibility. — Although this tract was 
not visited, it is believed that the physical conditions here are simi- 
lar to those on the Warwick Downs project except that the land 
here is undoubtedly held at a much lower price on account of loca- 
tion. 

274. Transportation facilities and towns. — Wood River Junction 
is also on the shore line 10 miles southwest of West Kingston. The 
Wood River branch runs north through the tract about 6 miles to 
Hope Valley. The same markets would be available as for the other 
projects described. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 
Table 34. — Agricultural cut-over lands in Rhode Island. 



171 



Project. 



Countv 



Acreage 
suitable 
for agri- 
culture. 



Estimated 
acreage 

■ available 
for com- 
munity 

settlement. 



Kingston Plains 

Warwick Downs 

Wood River Junction. 



Total. 
Other areas. 



Estimated total in State. 



Washington. 

Kent 

Washington. 



SOUTH DAKOTA. 



5, 000 
5,000 
5,000 



15,000 
170,000 



185,000 



5,000 
5,000 
5,000 



15,000 



GENERAL STATEMEN T. 

275. Scope and results of investigations. — The investigations con- 
ducted by the northern division in South Dakota were confined to the 
area east of the ninety-eighth meridian, except the James River Valley, 
which is cut by that meridian. There were originally about 5,000,000 
acres of swamp and overflow lands in the State. This acreage, gener- 
ally speaking, was scattered throughout the area in small tracts easily 
drained, if susceptible of economical drainage at all. Up to 1918 
the State engineer reports about 600,000 acres of the total as drained, 
and there is at present a 100,000-acre project under construction in 
Marshal] County. There are about 190,000 acres of excellent occupied 
and cultivated lands in the James River Valley subject to overflow. 
These lands are located in a former old lake bed and are flat and 
hard to drain. In the valley of Lake Traverse and of the Bois de 
Sioux River there are about 10,000 acres that are considered feasible 
both as to reclamation and as to settlement. This project lies also 
partly in Minnesota and North Dakota. South Dakota is essentially 
a prairie State and consequently there are no cut-over lands in it. 



Table 35. — Lands needing drainage in South Dakota. 



Project. 



County 



Acreage. 



Bois de Sioux . 
Other areas 



Roberts. 10, 000 

Various | 4, 190, 000 



Estimated total in State ! 4, 200, 000 



VERMONT. 
GENERAL STATEMENT. 

276. Investigations. — It was not possible to conduct field investi- 
gations in Vermont in the limited time. For the most part the State 
is hilly to mountainous, but in spite of that fact agriculture has flour- 
ished in times past. Large crops of grains and hay and forage crops 
were raised and sheep raising was carried on very extensively. 



172 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

Dairying is still a most important industry, fruit raising is exten- 
sively engaged in, and the State stands at the top in the production 
of maple sirup. Otter Creek Valley in Addison and Rutland Coun- 
ties is nearly level to slightly rolling for a strip of about 20,000 
acres, and there are two large swamps in this section. In Addison 
County just east of Lake Champlain, including the Dead Creek Val- 
ley, is an area of a number of square niiles of level to rolling land. 
In Grand Isle County there is quite a tract of slightly rolling and 
swampy land, while in Franklin County there is a similar tract of 
about 15,000 to 20,000 acres. In this same county at the mouth of 
the Missisquai River is a swamp of about 7,500 acres, a large part 
of which it may be possible to reclaim by diking and pumping. The 
level lands in Addison County all have a heavy "clay or clay loam 
soil varying in depth from 6 to 12 inches, with a subsoil of heavy 
clay somewhat tenacious when wet, but extremely stiff, compact, and 
intractable when diw. This soil is excellent for hay, and oats and 
barley yield well. The railroad transportation facilities as well as 
the highways are good and, owing to the present general languishing 
state of agriculture in New England and to the great near-by popu- 
lations, the markets are sure and large for all possible agricultural 
products. 

WASHINGTON. 
■» 

GENERAL STATEMENT. 

277. Scope and results of investigations. — Investigations by the 
northern division in this State coyer only cut-over lands. The landj 
needing drainage and those needing irrigation were investigated by 
the western division. The larger part of all the cut-over lands in 
Washington is west of the Cascade Mountains. These lands have 
been grouped, for the purposes of this report, according to whether 
the soils are of glacial or mainly of residual origin. The glacial soil 
cut-over lands are those surrounding Puget Sound and two small 
areas in northeast Washington, here called the upper Columbia proj- 
ect. The residual soil cut-over lands are those surrounding Grays 
Harbor and Willapa Bay on the coast and those along the lower 
tributaries of Columbia River. The acreage suitable for agriculture 
in the State, as a whole, is estimated to be about 2,025,000. It will 
doubtless be possible to select feasible projects in this area where the 
cost of clearing is not excessive and where the agricultural possibili- 
ties are good, coupled with satisfactory transportation and markets. 

278. Offers and prices of lands. — Various lumber companies in the 
State of Washington have joined forces in making offers to the Gov- 
ernment of cut-over lands which they have for sale. The lands are 
in some 20 parcels and aggregate about 200,000 acres. Also the farm 
development bureau of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce has simi- 
larly submitted tentative offers on behalf of various lumber com- 
panies owning cut-over lands in northeast Washington and Kootenai 
and Bonner Counties, Idaho, aggregating about 188,000 acres. The 
price of these last-mentioned parcels is stated as " not over $15 per 
acre." The extreme price range on the other parcels is from $2 to $30 
per acre. Raw stump and brush-covered lands are quoted at prices 
varying from $15 to $50 per acre, and some stump land is held at 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 173 

from $75 to $125 per acre. Improved farm land is valued at from 
$200 to $300 or more per acre. 

279. Engineering flans and feasibility. — The cost of clearing 
these western cut-over lands is comparatively high, although there 
is considerable range in cost for the different areas and parts thereof. 
It is evident, therefore, that in order to prove an economically advis- 
able undertaking, assurance niust be had that the net returns from 
agricultural products will pay interest on the original value of the 
land, plus the cost of clearing and improving. Such assurance can 
only be gained by a very careful consideration of each particular 
contemplated project. 

280. Transportation facilities and towns. — The railroad, as well 
as the highway, accommodations in the areas discussed vary so 
greatly as to prevent detailed consideration here. Western Wash-: 
ington, however, is well traversed by the Great Northern, Northern 
Pacific, Bellingham & Northern, and Pacific Northwest Traction 
Railroads, as well as by many spurs and logging roads. The Co- 
lumbia and many other streams are navigable at least in part and 
with one exception each area has two or more railroad lines crossing 
it as well as numerous branch lines. These are supplemented in 
many instances by electric lines. Willapa and Grays Harbor, as 
well as numerous ports on Puget Sound and the Columbia River, 
give most excellent shipping facilities. The whole area is also prac- 
tically a network of State roads. The areas under discussion in- 
clude, or are adjacent to, all the large cities and towns of western 
Washington, which will furnish local markets for farm produce. 
The Vancouver area is practically all within a 50-mile zone of Port- 
land, Oreg., with particularly good transportation facilities through- 
out. The various ports also furnish an easy means for export trade 
to. all parts of the world. Seattle is the metropolis of the section, 
while a few of the other larger cities are Tacoma, Portland, Everett, 
Bellingham, Port Townsend, Aberdeen, Vancouver, and Chehalis. 

CUT-OVER LANDS WITH GLACIAL SOILS. 

281. Location and acreage. — These cut-over lands may be divided 
into the Pugent Sound projects designated as the Totten, Nisqually, 
Seattle, Everett, Skagit, and Nooksak projects, and the upper Co- 
lumbia project in northeast Washington, comprising the Loon Lake 
and Newport tracts. These latter tracts lie in Stevens and Pend 
Oreille Counties, while the former are in Mason, Thurston, Pierce, 
King, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties, south and east of 
Puget Sound. The gross acreages of agricultural cut-over lands of 
these two main divisions are respectively 515,000 and 122,000 acres. 

282. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soil of the river- 
bottom lands is largely made up of alluvial deposits, which are often 
of high fertility and productiveness. The upland soils are mostly 
of glacial origin, occurring in varying depths and of different de- 
grees of fertility. They consist of a sandy loam with an average 
depth of 10 to 15 inches and contain a large number of small, 
rounded, iron concretions which weather readily. Rounded gravel, 
varying from coarse sand to stones 4 or 5 inches in diameter, occurs 
largely, but not in sufficient quantity to classify the soil as a gravelly 



174 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. % 

loam. The subsoil consists of a mass of rounded glacial gravel im- 
.beddecl in a medium to coarse gray sandy loam. Gravel, coarse, and 
fine sand and silt often occur in more or less extensive beds or 
pockets or in layers varying from 1 to 5 feet in thickness. In 
general, the cut-over lands are adapted to dairying, poultry raising, 
stock raising, and general farming. 

283. Detailed information on areas'. — Additional data relating to 
the several projects of the glacial group are given in the following 
paragraphs. 

284. Everett project. — This area embraces the lower part of the 
drainage area of the Snoqualmie River and also those of the Snoho- 
mish, Skyhomish, and Stilaquamish Elvers, and lies between the 
Puget Sound and the rough country along the slopes of the Cascade 
Mountains. There is a strip of coast land, then a greatly rolling 
and gradually ascending upland intersected here and there by 
sharper-sloped ridges and irregular areas of mesa land. The area 
has the prevailing Puget Sound climate. The soils are largely 
gravelly and sandy loam throughout the upland countrj 7- , and silts 
and clay loam in the lowlands. There are 125,000 acres considered 
suitable for agriculture, of which probably 50,000 acres are available 
for community settlement. 

285. Nisqually 'project. — The drainage basin of the Nisqually and 
Deschutes Rivers in the south and the Puyallup River in the north 
are included in this area which lies in Thurston and Pierce Counties. 
The western part of the district and for some distance back from 
the Sound country is comparatively level but undulating, merging 
into a more rolling and diversified country. It then ascends into the 
foothills and bench lands of the Cascades. The stream valleys have 
varying-sized areas of level land, but these are mostly occupied 
;and in cultivation. One tract of 8,000 to 9,000 acres, known as the 
prairie lands, is found in the western part of the area. This is a 
slightly undulating plain interspersed with broad, low, flat-surfaced 
terraces. Most of this tract is open and treeless. The soil here is 
shallow and poor, overlying beds of coarse gravel of considerable 
depth. Under irrigation these soils produce fair returns of some 
crops. In general, the soils vary from peat and muck soils along the 
shore lands and at the mouths of the rivers, the alluvial deposits in 
the valleys, through the various phases of the silt and agrilicious 
soils and loams, to the shallow gravelly glacial reefs. For the 
most part, the cut-over lands are fertile. It is estimated that there 
are about 20,000 acres in the project suitable for agriculture. 

286. Nooksak -and Skagit projects. — These two projects are so 
similar that a single description will answer for both. They lie, 
respectively, in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, the former bordering 
on Canada. They are drained by the Nooksak and Skagit Rivers 
with delta plains at their mouths. The glacial outwash here is com- 
posed of a great variety of materials from huge fragments of broken 
rock and bowlders, through the gradations of gravel, sand, clay, and 
silt, to marsh-ooze. Farther back from the shore in the valleys, 
the soils of the glacial plains are a combination of gravel, sand, 
clay, silt, and loam, the latter being largely the mould or alluvium 
eroded from the forest-covered uplands. The agricultural value of 
these soils depends upon their mixture, but as a rule the lands of 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 175 

the two valleys are productive. The uplands are more or less diver- 
sified and broken, but a considerable portion may be classed as till- 
able. Both districts are largely forest-covered, much of the timber 
being of unusual size and quality. The climate is mild and uniform, 
and the agricultural possibilities include fruits, grains, vegetables, 
and forage crops. These two tracts contain about 253,000 acres 
suitable for agricultural. 

287. Seattle project. — Embracing the western half of King and the 
peninsula section of Kitsap Counties, this area includes the drainage 
basins of White River, Green River, Cedar River, and the upper 
basin of the Snoqualmie with its tributaries. Along the streams are 
stretches of alluvial lands totaling a considerable acreage. In the 
upper districts the bordering uplands are precipitous and broken, but 
the bordering foothills are lower and with rounded slopes quite suit- 
able for farming. The peninsula section across the Sound is com- 
paratively level. The soil is mostly a sandy loam, but in some places 
runs more to a loamy sand. It contains much organic matter adapt- 
ing it to market gardening, berry culture, and forage crops, also 
dairying and poultry raising. The climate is mild and the rainfall 
large. There are about 105,000 acres of unoccupied agricultural 
lands in this area. 

288. Totten project. — This is an area lying in northwestern Thurs- 
ton and southern Mason Counties, just to the west of the western end 
of the Nisqually project. Totten Inlet and Eld Inlet extend into this 
area, the latter forming its eastern boundary. The northern half of 
the district has gravelly, sandy loam soil and the southern half a 
loam soil. The precipitation ranges from 60 to 70 inches. Prac- 
tically all of the area is rough and broken and the reclaimable agri- 
cultural area is only about 12,000 acres. 

289. Upper Columbia project. — The Loon Lake division of this 
project is located on the headwaters of the Colville River, the south- 
ern portion being drained southward through Chamokane Creek and 
Little Spokane River. The country is, in general, rough, except in 
the vicinity of Deer Park. The logged-off lands in Stevens County, 
on Chamokane Creek and the head of Colville River, suitable for cul- 
tivation, occupy comparatively extensive level to gently-rolling ter- 
races along these streams, or residual uplands to the westward. The 
western portion of the area is rolling to hilly. The altitude ranges 
from 2,000 to 2,500 feet. Precipitation ranges from 18 to 22 inches, 
and the climate is typical of the inland empire. Crops do better 
with irrigation. The soils are principally silt loam, varying from 
silt loam to fine sandy loam with heavy stone content where glacia- 
tion occurs. Large orchards are being planted in the Deer Park sec- 
tion, and intensive agriculture is here followed. In the vicinity of 
Springdale and southward the county is principally adapted to hay 
for dairy stock and the hardy vegetables. The second division of 
the upper Columbia project, or Newport unit, is situated principally 
in Spokane and Pend Oreille Counties. 

The northern part of the area is drained by Chirks Fork of the 
Columbia River. The portion south of Newport is drained south- 
ward by the Little Spokane River. The Clarks Fork Valley through 
the area ranges from 1 to 5 miles in width. The tract is made up 
for the most part of level gently rolling river terraces of an average 



176 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

ekvation of 2,500 feet and glacial uplands. Throughout this sec- 
tion of Washington and Idaho the valleys are more or less broken 
and contain large areas of nontillable land; such areas, however, 
afford good grazing. The climate is tempered by the " Chinook n 
winds, the winters being mild and the summers temperate, the 
precipitation varying from 20 to 26 inches. Late-maturing crops 
do better with irrigation. The soils range from silt loam underlain 
with silt and sand to a fine sandy loam with a subsoil of gravel and 
rounded cobbles. Generally speaking, the soil may be classed as a 
silty fine sandy loam. A considerable amount of intensive farming 
has been done and various fruits have been successfully grown. In 
the vicinity of Newport the country is generally adapted to hay 
crops, especially clover, as well as all kinds of hardy vegetables and 
root crops. The climate is too cool for corn and melons. The upper 
Columbia project is estimated to contain about 122,000 acres of un- 
occupied cut-over lands suitable for agriculture. 

CUT-OVER LANDS WITH RESIDUAL SOILS. 

290. Location and acreage. — There are five of these areas in south- 
western Washington, namely, Alochaman, Chehalis, Cowlitz, Van- 
couver, and Willapa projects, which will be taken up below in detail. 
Three of the areas border on the Columbia River, while two of them 
have immediate access to the sea. The estimated unoccupied cut- 
over lands in these five projects available for agriculture amount to 
some 690,000 acres. 

291. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The residual soils pre- 
dominate in these areas in the southwestern portion of Washington. 
They are formed directly from weathering of underlying rocks in 
place and include soils of the rolling to hilly upland districts and 
those of the rough mountainous districts. There are alluvial soils 
of the terraces as well as the recent alluvial flood plains, sedimentary 
deposits in lake beds, morainic soils, and those derived from organic 
matter in this section, but all these are of minor occurrence. The 
soils of the rolling to hilly upland districts are uniformly of fine 
texture, principally clay loams and silty clay loams. The texture 
of the fine earth comprising the soil of the rough mountainous dis- 
tricts varies from light loams to silty clay or clay loam. Most of 
the types carry a large quantity of small angular gravel, bowlders, 
and large rock fragments both on the surface and in the subsoils. 
These soils and the climate are adapted to the growing of small 
grain, potatoes, fruit, and to dairying. 

292. Detailed information of areas. — In the following paragraphs 
will be found additional information relating to the natural divisions 
of the lands considered in the residual soil group. 

293. Alochaman project. — This tract has a 50-mile frontage on 
the north bank of the Columbia River, in eastern Wahkiakum 
County, in the extreme southwest corner of the State. It includes 
also a small portion of western Cowlitz County. It is mostly an 
upland country, ranging in elevation from 500 to 1,500 feet above 
sea level. It is drained by several streams. While somewhat broken 
and irregular, it is estimated that about one-third of the area is 
tillable. Only about 50,000 acres have as yet been logged off, of 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 177 

which 20,000 acres are estimated as suitable for agriculture. The 
climate is moderate, as in all of the lower Columbia Valley, and 
well adapted to agriculture of all kinds. The soil of the northern 
portion is a stony loam, of the southwest portion a silty clay loam, 
and of the southeast corner a silt loam. The stony loam is usually 
regarded as too rugged for agriculture, but the silt loam, when 
accessible, is desirable for farming purposes. The silty clay loam 
is rolling to hilly land adapted to dairying. Hay, corn, and oats 
do well. There is little agricultural settlement in this ar^.a. 

294. Chehalis project. — The Chehalis *area comprises the drainage- 
basin of the Chehalis River, the western extremity bordering Grays 
Harbor. A large part of the district is comparatively level or com- 
posed of gently rolling hilly land. The level land along the Chehalis 
River is very generally occupiecl and cultivation is extending to the 
uplands back from the stream. Some open flat tracts are embraced, 
known as prairies, which are generally of shallow, gravelly, poor 
soil. The soils of the valley lands are composed of erosion deposits, 
with a large content of organic matter and humus, while those of the 
uplands are very generally a clay loam or silty clay loam, with 
occasional areas where gravel or sand modify or replace the clay. 
This may be considered as a general farming section, but as July 
and August are usually practically without rain special cropping or 
irrigation is necessary. The annual precipitation ranges from 90 
inches in the coast section to 50 inches in the eastern portion. The 
estimated area of unoccupied lands suitable for agriculture is about 
222,000 acres. 

295. Cowlitz project. — This area adjoins and is south of Chehalis 
district and is practically formed of the Cowlitz River drainage 
basin. This river is navigable for 50 miles from its confluence with 
the Columbia River, which forms the southwest border of the district 
for 45 miles. The lower and larger part of the Cowlitz Basin, vary- 
ing in elevation from 100 to 1,400 feet, is largely a succession of val- 
leys, the intervening ridges and hills being of easy slope and moder- 
ate elevation. The cut-over area is extending rapidly and is esti- 
mated to embrace 650,000 acres, of which 268,000 are considered 
suitable for agriculture. The climate is moderate with long grow- 
ing seasons and short, temperate winters. The precipitation ranges 
from 40 to 60 inches. The soils range from the alluvial sediments 
of the valley floors through the various classes of loams to the shallow 
soils of the terraces and rocky uplands. The tillable areas have 
largely the silty clay and clay-loam soils, which are general^ rich 
and fertile. 

296. Vancouver project. — The Vancouver project is the most south- 
erly district and is bounded for 150 miles on the south and west by 
the great bend in the Columbia River. It has an area of nearly 2.200 
square miles and includes the foothill slopes of Mount Adams and 
Mount St. Helens, and also the outlying tableland, which in the 
eastern part extends down to the Columbia River and in the western 
part merges into the gently rolling hill countrv of Clark County. 
The Klickitat and White Salmon Rivers drain the eastern part and 
the Lewis River the western part. The climate has a large range 
of variation, the section with the more severe climate being adapted 

141 S01— H. Doc. 262, 66-1 12 



178 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



to fruit raising. The precipitation ranges from 18 inches in the 
extreme eastern part to 50 inches or more along the Columbia in the 
western part. The soils are diversified, and while over a very large 
proportion of the million and a half acres they range from poor 
to the ordinary, yet throughout the tillable areas they may be re- 
garded as generally fertile. This is attested by the fact that in 
practically every locality within the area farming of all kinds has 
for years been carried on with success. Along the stream-flood plains 
the soil is generally a sedimentary alluvium and that of the adjoining 
valley lands alluvial and sandy loam, with occasional tracts of grav- 
elly loam. The terraces and outwash bench lands have generally 
sandy or gravelly soils more or less mixed with loam. The hill coun- 
try has residual soils from the igneous and basaltic formations. 
Diversified as well as intensive farming is feasible. The estimated 
unoccupied acreage of lands suitable for agriculture is 120,000 acres. 
297. Willa/pa project. — This area surrounds Willapa Bay in the 
southwest corner of the State, and besides the western slopes of the 
Coast Range in the Willapa drainage basin it also includes the east- 
ern slopes of the same range. Of the 800 square miles about 40 per 
cent is already logged off or burned over. Along the coast and for 
some distance inland the country is comparatively level, and back 
of this strip it is mostly a rolling hilly country, becoming rougher 
and more broken toward the crest of the mountains. The altitude 
ranges from tidewater to 1,200 feet, except the mountains, a few of 
which have elevations of 2,400 to 2,500 feet. The climate is mild 
and favorable for agricultural production. The precipitation ranges 
from 40 to 80 inches, with little snowfall. The soils vary from black 
muck or peaty mold on the lowlands to a black clay loam, and then 
a sandy loam as higher altitudes are recorded. Early fruits and 
vegetables are especially adapted to this district, as are poultry and 
dairying. The unoccupied acreage suitable for agriculture is 60,000 
acres. 

Table 36. — Agricultural cut-over lands in Washington. 



Project. 



Vancouver 

Cowlitz 

Alochaman 

Willapa 

Chehalis -- 

Totten 

Nisqually 

Seattle 

Everett...- 

Skagit 

Nooksak 

Upper Columbia . 



Total. 
Other areas. 



Estimated total in State . 



County 



Clarke, Cowlitz, and Skamania 

Cowlitz and Lewis 

Wahkiakum 

Pacific 

Lewis, Thurston, and Grays Harbor . 

Thurston and Mason 

Thurston and Pierce 

Pierce and King 

Pierce and Snohomish 

Skagit 

Whatcom 

Stevens, Spokane, and Pend Oreille.. 



Various . 



Acreage 

suitable 

for 

agriculture. 



120, 000 

268, 000 

20, 000 

60, 000 

222, 000 

12, 000 

20, 000 

105, 000 

125, 000 

128, 000 

125, 000 

122, 000 



1,327,000 
698,000 



2,025,000 



Estimated 
acreage 

available 
for com- 
munity 

settlement. 



60, 000 
100, 000 
10, 000 
30, 000 
100, 000 
10, 000 
10, 000 
50, 000 
50, 000 
50, 000 
50, 000 
50, 000 



570, 000 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



179 



Table 37.— Classified acreages of unoccupied cut-over lands in various counties 
* in cut-over region of Washington. 



County. 



Cbehalis - 

Clallam 2 

Clarke 2 ... 

Cowlitz 2 

Ferry 3 

Grays Harbor 2 

Island 2 ... 

Jefferson 2 

King 2 

Kitsap 2 

Klickitat 3 

Lewis 2 

Mason 2 

Okanogan 3 

Pacific 2 

Pend Oreille 3 - 

Pierce 2 

San Joan 2 

Skagit 2 

Skamania 2 

Snohomish 2 .... 

Spokane 3 

Stevens 3 

Thurston 2 

Wahkiakum 2 . 
Whatcom 2 

Total 



Area of un- 
occupied 
cut-over 
lands. 



A cres. 
162, 000 
135, 000 

82, 500 
300, 000 

10, 000 
384, 100 
112,800 
106, 000 

88, 600 
140, 500 

10, 000 
472, 200 
200, 000 

10, 000 
207, 200 

80, 000 

120, 000 

7,500 

213, 000 

40, 000 
210, 000 
200, 000 
788, 000 

50, 000 

95, 000 
251, 900 



4, 476, 300 



Area most 

suitable 

for 

agriculture. 



Acres. 

72, 900 

50, 000 

50, 000 

200, 000 

4,500 

8,000 

50, 800 

50, 000 

50, 000 

75, 000 

500 

236, 000 

200, 000 

4,500 

75, 000 

65, 000 

90, 000 

7,500 

127, 800 

20, 000 

100, 000 

120, 000 

197, 000 

25, 000 

20, 000 

125, 000 



2, 024, 500 



Area most 

suitable 

for 

■ grazing. i 



Acres. 



57, 400 



3,300 



88, 800 
3,100 



13, 700 
19, 500 



Prevailing 

price of 

cut-over 

lands. 



78, 300 



10, 500 
29, 600 
23, 500 



55, 000 



382, 700 



8- 50 
35-125 
10- 40 

5- 30 



10- 40 
10- 40 
35-150 
12-150 
20- 50 
10- 50 
10- 35 
5- 10 
20- 50 



10- 50 
10- 50 
40-150 
20- 50 
15-100 
15- 30 
3- 35 
10- 50 
15- 50 
20- 75 



1 Private lands and national forest. 



2 West Washington. 



3 East Washington. 



WISCONSIN. 



GENEKAL STATEMENT. 

298. Scope and results of investigation. — It is estimated that there 
are approximately 3,800,000 acres of undeveloped swamp lands in 
Wisconsin and approximately 7,500,000 acres of unoccupied cut-over 
lands. Of this area of cut-over lands approximately 5,000,000 acres 
are considered suitable for agricultural development and about 
1,250,000 for grazing. The unoccupied cut-over area of the State lies 
principally in 27 counties in the northern part of the State, partly 
within the drainage area of Lake Superior, partly within the drainage 
area of Lake Michigan, and partly within the drainage area of the 
Mississippi River. Two areas, one containing 100,000 acres lying 
in Douglas County, called the Douglas County project, and one 
lying in Taylor County, containing 20,000 acres, called the Mon- 
cleaux project, have been selected for consideration. These areas 
will be briefly described in the following pages. Numerous other 
areas of equal quality can be selected in various parts of the northern 
portion of Wisconsin. Twenty-one different swamp-land areas of 
considerable magnitude were investigated and a number of these 
projects are considered suitable for development. Some of them 
have been organized into drainage districts and considerable work 
has been done on them. It is believed that some of these partially 
developed areas can be economically completed with Government 
funds and used for settlements. Other areas that have not yet been 
undertaken offer equally as attractive opportunities. Of these un- 
touched areas three have been detailed for discussion, known re- 
spectively as the Chippewa project in Rusk County, the White 



180 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

River project in Bayfield County, and the Bark River project in 
Jefferson and Waukesha Counties. The estimated total * area of 
swamp lands in Wisconsin is 3,803,000 acres. 

299. Offers and prices of land. — A large number of offers of land 
for soldier-settlement purposes were received from various parties 
holding lands in the State. These tracts varied in size from about 
3,000 to 70,000 acres and the prices asked varied from $5 to $50 
per acre. The total acreage offered was 968,000 acres. Considerably 
over 50 per cent of the unoccupied cut-over lands in the State are 
held in large ownerships and there should be no difficulty in secur- 
ing in Wisconsin a large number of excellent projects, with good 
soils and compactness of area. 

300. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The entire northern and 
eastern parts of the State of Wisconsin were affected by glaciers 
and practically the entire area was covered by the most recent 
glacial invasion. The soils of this region conform, therefore, in 
general to the characteristics of the soils of the entire Great Lakes 
group of cut-over lands, belonging either to the glacial province or 
to the glacial lake province. The soils of the glacial lake province 
are found principally along the shores of Lake Superior in the 
vicinity of Superior, Bayfield, and Ashland, and in the area sur- 
rounding Lake Winnebago and Green Bay, and in a narrow strip 
along the west shore of Lake Michigan. The glacial province covers 
practically all of the remainder of the entire State, with the excep- 
tion of about 13 counties in the southwestern part of the State. 
Within the glacial area the soils consist of gravel, sands, and loamy 
and clayey tills of the usual glacial types. Within the glacial lake 
province the soils consist of a red clay sometimes overtopped with 
sands or sandy loams. The winters of northern Wisconsin are cold 
and dry and the summers are warm. Precipitation ranges from 
about 32 inches in the lower elevations of the State to about 44 
inches in the higher elevations. A large percentage of this pre- 
cipitation falls during the growing season from April 1 to Septem- 
ber 30. This State is seldom injured agriculturally by extreme 
drought or extreme precipitation. With the exception of the higher 
parts of the State, the whole region has an exceptionally long 
growing season. The soils and the climate are well adapted to the 
growing of all kinds of grasses, clovers, small grains, vegetables, 
and hardier fruits. Clovers and grasses grow exceptionally well in 
this region. Dairying is rapidly becoming an important farming 
industry and the whole region is well adapted to this type of farm 
industry. 

LANDS NEEDING DRAINAGE. 
BARK RIVER PROJECT. 

301. Location and acreage. — The Bark River project contains 
approximately 20,000 acres in two swamp areas in the drainage basin 
of Bark River, partly in Waukesha and partly in Jefferson Counties. 

302. Soils and agricultural, possibilities. — The surface soil consists 
of peat with a depth varying from 2 to 8 feet and a subsoil of sand 
or sandy clay with occasional beds of marl. The deeper peat soil 
will quite likely have to be fertilized with potassium and possibly 
phosphorus to insure good agricultural results; otherwise the agri- 
cultural possibilities are considered to be good. These lands should 
be suitable for growing grasses, clovers, and grains, as well as root 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 181 

crops of all kinds. Most of the land within the limits of this project 
is held in small ownerships. . 

303. Engineering flan and feasibility. — The outlet for drainage 
works for this project is the Bark River and there appears to be suffi- 
cient fall in the river and from the surrounding lands to the river 
to make the drainage of the project an easy matter. Open lateral 
ditches from the river into the body of the land, together with tiling, 
will be necessary to complete the drainage of the area. 

304. Transportation facilities and towns. — The lands referred to 
in this report are traversed by the main line of the Chicago & North- 
western Railroad between Milwaukee and Madison. The towns of 
Sullivan in Jefferson County and of Dousman in Waukesha County 
are on this railroad adjacent to the swamp lands. The area is not 
far distant from Waukesha and Jefferson, the county seats of the 
counties of their respective names. Moreover, the whole area is 
within a short distance of Milwaukee and Chicago. 

CHTPPEWA PROJECT. 

305. Location and acreage. — The Chippewa project contains about 
10,000 acres of land, lying between the Chippewa and Flambeau 
Rivers southwest of Lady smith in Rusk County. 

306. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — This tract of land con- 
sists of swamp land intermingled with islands or higher lands so 
interspersed that in a farm of the usual size there would be both 
swamp and highland. The swamp lands are largely of the open 
type and have a peat soil varying from shallow to deep. The soil 
of the highlands and the subsoil of the marsh lands consist of sandy 
loam with a large proportion of fine to coarse sand and a small pro- 
portion of silt and clay. The leveler stretches adjacent to the rivers 
are more sandy and were originally timbered with pine, while the 
more undulating areas, containing a larger proportion of fine sand 
and silt, were originally timbered with hardwoods mixed with pines. 
These upland soils are, with proper use of leguminous crops, well 
adapted to the growing of both root crops and grains and grasses. 
Potash, lime, and possibly also phosphorus, may be needed to render 
the peat soil fertile. 

307. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The natural drainage for 
the swamp lands is west into the Chippewa River and the possibility 
of drainage at reasonable expense appears to be evident. Open 
ditches extending from the river into the lands with supplemental 
tile lines will be necessary to accomplish the reclamation. The 
uplands and the dryer portion of the swamp land will have to be 
cleared of brush and stumps before they can utilized for cultivated 
crops. 

308. Transportation facilities and towns. — The main line of the 
Sault Ste. Marie Railroad extending from St. Paul to Sault Ste. 
Marie passes along the northern border of this area. The towns of 
Bruce and Ladysmith are located near the area, the latter being the 
county seat of Rusk County. . Local markets and markets at St. Paul 
and Minneapolis will be available for products raised in this region. 

WHITE RIVER PROJECT. 

309. Location and acreage. — The White River project is located in 
the upper drainage basin of White River near the center of Bayfield 
County and contains approximately 18,000 acres of swamp land. 



182 DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 

310. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — About one-half of the 
soil consists of deep peat, and about one-half of shallow peat and 
sandy loam resting on a subsoil of red clay. The sandy loam soil 
and the shallow peat soil will make fertile farms from the outset. 
The deep peat soil, however, will require the application of potas- 
sium and possibly of phosphorus and lime in order to make it pro 
ductive for all classes of crops. The soil when drained should be 
suitable for growing small grains, grasses, clover, peas, and all kinds 
of root crops. 

311. Engineering flan and feasibility. — The drainage of these 
lands will require the removal of the dam on White River at Mason, 
the cleaning of the river channel for some distance above the dam, 
the constructing of large open ditches into the swamp areas, and the 
connecting of these main ditches with the farm lands by means of 
tile lines. The vegetation on the deep peat soil consists of dead 
tamarack, cedar, and spruce intermingled with poplar, birch, willow, 
and alder brush. The vegetation on the shallow peat adjacent to the 
streams consists of elm, ash, and tamarack, with a thick undergrowth 
of alders and willows, and in the areas more distant from the 
streams, with blue- joint grass, dead tamaracks, and small clumps of 
poplars and alders with intermingled willow brush. The clearing 
can be readily and economically accomplished. Vegetation on the: 
sandy loam consists of grasses and clumps of poplar and willow 
brush. 

312. Transportation facilities and towns. — The area of this proj- 
ect is bounded on the north by the main line of the Duluth & South 
Shore Railroad, and the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha 
Railroad, running from St. Paul to Ashland, crosses the eastern 
end of the project. The'Small towns in the project are Sutherland, 
Bibon, GrandvieAV, and Mason. The entire area is located within 
a short distance of Ashland, Superior, and Duluth, and is not far 
distant from St. Paul and Minneapolis. 

CUT-OVER PROJECTS. 
DOUGLAS COUNTY PROJECT. 

313. Location and acreage. — The Douglas County project con- 
tains approximately 100,000 acres of land lying in the southwestern 
part of Douglas County. This area is situated on the divide between 
the drainage basin of Lake Superior and that of St. Croix River and 
in the vicinity of the headwaters of numerous small streams of 
these drainage basins. 

314. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The soil of the larger 
part of the area consists of a silt loam with a subsoil of sandy loam. 
This soil is generally acid, but has sufficient porosity for good 
drainage. A considerable area in the southwestern part of the tract 
has a silty loam soil with a subsoil of silty material. Chemical 
analyses show the quantities of plant foods of this soil satisfac- 
tory with the exception of phosphorus. Scattered throughout the 
entire area are numerous depressions with peat and muck soils. The 
surface of the loam soil is gently rolling while that of the silt loam 
varies from level to rolling. These soils are adapted to the grow- 
ing of small grains, grasses, potatoes, silage corn, and small fruits, 
and also of clovers when treated for acidity. This region is espe- 
cially well adapted to dairying. 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 183 

315. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The original vegetation 
of the uplands of this entire area consisted of the various hard- 
woods, hemlock, and white pine. In the swamp areas the original 
vegetation was mainly tamarack, cedars, spruce, and ash. The 
pine and some of the hemlock and hardwoods have been removed 
from these lands. The problem of reclamation, therefore, is the 
usual one of clearing connected with incidental drainage of some 
of the low depressions or swamps. Sufficient slope for outlets for 
the swamp lands usually exists. 

316. Transportation facilities and towns. — The Minneapolis, St. 
Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, running from St. Paul to Supe- 
rior and Duluth, passes near the western edge of the entire tract 
and through the northern part thereof, while a branch of the Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad passes along the eastern part 
of the tract. There are a few roads and small towns within the 
main body of the tract. Several railroad towns of considerable im- 
portance are not far -distant from the edges of the tract, and the 
whole tract is within easy reach of the markets of Minneapolis, St. 
Paul, Duluth, and Superior. 

MONDEAUX PROJECT. 

317. Location and acreage. — The Mondeaux project is located 
mainly within the drainage basin of Mondeaux Creek, in the north- 
central part of Taylor County, and it contains approximately 20,000 
acres of land. 

318. Soils and agricultural possibilities. — The general surface of 
this tract varies from level to undulating and rolling, the northern 
part of the tract being level to undulating and the southern part 
undulating to rolling. The soil in the northern part is a silt loam, 
with a subsoil varying from silt loam to silty clay loam. The soil 
is deficient in nitrogen and is generally acid in character. There 
are some bowlders and stones scattered over the surface of the 
ground, but they are not sufficient in number to interfere with culti- 
vation. The soil in the southern part of the area consists of a clay 
loam, with a subsoil of bowlder clay. The rougher parts of this land 
contain considerable numbers of bowlders, while those of the more 
gently sloping and undulating lands have few bowlders that will 
interfere with cultivation. Under proper farming methods and fer- 
tilizing treatment of the soils this region is adapted to the growing 
of small grains, grasses, clovers, potatoes, garden truck, and small 
fruits. The southern and rougher part of the area will also grow 
successfully some of the hardier tree fruits. 

319. Engineering plan and feasibility. — The general problem of 
reclamation of these lands consists of clearing, with a small amount 
of incidental drainage. The original vegetation consisted mainly of 
hardwoods and hemlocks, with a few scattering white pines. The 
pines have all been cut, and portions of the hardwoods and hemlocks 
have also been removed. 

320. Transportation facilities and towns. — The Ashland and Chi- 
cago branch of the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad 
passes within a few miles of the eastern border of this tract of land, 
and the St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie branch -of the same railroad 
passes a few miles to the north thereof. Highways within the body 
of the land are meager. Chelsea, Westboro, Ogema, Prentice, and 



184 



DEVELOPMENT OF UNUSED LANDS. 



Kennan are the principal towns in the vicinity of the tract, 
road connections with Minneapolis and St. Paul are good. 
Table 38. — Lands needing drainage in Wisconsin. 



Rail- 



Project. 


County. 


Acreage. 


Barber Lake 


Sawyer 


6,000 
20,000 
10,000 
270, 000 
10, 000 
17, 000 
18, 000 
3, 452, 000 


Bark River 


Jefferson and Waukesha 


Chippewa 


Rusk 


Glacial Lake 


Wood and others 


Manitowoc 


Calumet and Manitowoc . . 




Oconto 


White River 


Bayfield 




Various 






Estimated total in State 


1 3, 803, 000 







i These figures were furnished by the Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering, U. S. Department 
of Agriculture.* 



Table 39. — Agricultural cut-over lands in Wisconsin. 




Project. 


County. 


Acreage 
suitable for 
agriculture. 


Estimated 
acreage 
available 
for commu- 
nity settle- 
ment. 


Douglas County 


Douglas 


100, 000 
20, 000 


75,000 
10,000 


Mondeaux 


Taylor 






Total 


120, 000 
4, 880, 000 


85, 000 


Other areas : 


Various 










Estimated total in State 


5, 000, 000 




i 





Note.— Probably 2,500,000 of this area could be utilized for community settlements. 

Table 40. — Classified acreages of unoccupied cut-over lands in various counties 

in cut-over regions of Wisconsin. 



County. 



Marinette . 
Florence... 

Forest 

Oneiia 

Iron 

Vilas 

Ashland... 
Bayfield. . . 
Douglas . . . 
Burnett . . . 
Washburn. 

Sawyer 

Price 

Lincoln . . . 
Langlade . . 

Oconto 

Shawano . . 
Marathon . . 

Taylor 

Chippewa . 

Poik 

Clark 

Eau Claire. 

Dunn 

Door 

Jackson . . . 
Husk 

Total 



Area of 

unoccupied 

cut-over 

lands. 



Acres. 
445, 020 
140, 000 
525, 000 
226, 100 
375, 100 
417, 000 
460, 000 
653, 400 
400, 000 
80,000 
100, 000 
585, 000 
624,334 
384, 000 
112, 000 
450, 000 
200,000 
235, 000 
135, 000 
265, 129 
69, 120 
108, 480 
74,000 
21, 000 
50, 000 
200, 000 
218, 000 



7, 492, 638 



Area most 
suitable for 
reforesta- 
tion. 



Acres. 
34, 100 
10, 000 
100, 000 
60, 000 
15, 000 
80, 000 



185, 000 

100, 000 

60, 000 

37, 000 

135, 000 

65, 000 

100, 000 

10, 000 

100, 000 

25, 000 

1,000 

5,000 

79, 538 

9,620 

1,000 

3,000 

1,000 

5,000 

75, 000 

45, 000 



Area most 
suitable for 
agriculture. 



Acres. 

223, 120 

90, 000 

395, 000 

108, 100 

335, 100 

257, 000 

265, 000 

463, 400 

300, 000 

15, 000 

60, 000 

350, 000 

509, 334 

200, 000 

- 50,000 

200, 000 

120, 000 

233, 000 

125, 000 

132, 565 

50,000 

106, 480 

68, 000 

19, 000 

42, 000 

25,000 

171, 000 



Area most 

suitable for 

grazing. 



Acres. 

187, 800 

40, 000 

30, 000 

660, 000 

25, 000 

80, 000 

135, 000 

5,000 



1,341,258 4,911,099 



5,000 

3,000 

100,000 

50, 000 

84, 000 

52, 000 

150, 000 

55, 000 

1,000 

5,000 

53, 026 

9,500 

1,000 

3,000 

1,000 

3,000 

100, 000 

2,000 



1,240,326 



Prevailing 

price of 

cut-over 

lands. 



$10-$3O 

15 

20 

8 

10 

5 

25 

5- 20 

15- 25 

10- 15 

15- 25 

12- 30 

10- 15 

20 

5- 30 

25 

15- 40 

12- 18 

9- 30 

20- 25 

16 

10- 20 

10- 15 

15- 30 

10- 25 

10- 20 

15- 25 



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